Zelensky presses US and Musk to end Starshield speed caps as winter looms

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday urged the United States and SpaceX founder Elon Musk to lift speed restrictions on the Starshield satellite internet system, warning that the limits are endangering lives and the power grid as winter approaches.

Why does Zelensky want the speed limits lifted?

He said the protection of civilians and Ukraine’s energy infrastructure before winter "directly depends" on removing the caps, according to BBC News. The president stressed that the current constraints are making it harder to stop Russian attacks.

What is Starshield and how are the limits affecting Ukraine’s defence?

Starshield is a military‑grade version of Starlink owned by Musk and supplied to Ukraine by the US government, BBC News reports. While ordinary Starlink handles battlefield communications, Starshield is used to intercept missiles and drones. Zelensky said speed limits of around 100 mph, enforced since Monday in Russian‑occupied areas, cause interceptor drones to lose connection at 161 km/h (100 mph), preventing them from catching Russian jet‑powered “shaheds”.

How have the restrictions been linked to US politics?

The speed caps were first identified in October, with Musk blaming the US government for the slowdown, while former President Donald Trump denied responsibility and claimed he told Musk to “put it back”, BBC News noted. Despite a brief return to normal operation, the limits persisted, and Zelensky warned that imposing them “partially recognises the temporary occupied territories as not ours”.