Ukraine says new speed restrictions on Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet have disrupted military operations.
Raising concerns about a technology that has become vital to its battlefield strategy.
Serhiy Beskrestnov, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, said SpaceX introduced a 100mph (160km/h) speed limit on Starlink terminals overnight without informing Kyiv.
The change reportedly caused several military missions to be disrupted.
But why does internet speed matter on the battlefield?
Ukrainian forces use Starlink to guide drones, intercept Russian aerial attacks, coordinate reconnaissance and relay signals.
Defence officials say terminals lose connectivity when vehicles or equipment exceed the new threshold.
SpaceX has not commented on the reported restrictions, and Ukraine says it is investigating the cause.
Beskrestnov suggested the timing “cannot be a coincidence,” although no evidence establishing a political motive has been presented.
Ukraine Faces Growing Pressure
The disruption comes as Russia launches another wave of missile and drone attacks.
Zelensky said at least 600,000 people were left without electricity after strikes damaged critical energy infrastructure, while local officials reported multiple deaths.
The attacks have intensified pressure on Ukraine’s air defences, particularly as residents report missiles hitting before warning sirens sounded.
Starlink has become a crucial communications lifeline since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
But the latest dispute highlights a difficult reality.
When a country’s military depends on privately operated technology, how much control does it really have over its own battlefield communications?
