Restrictions on Starshield services, widely used by Ukrainian armed forces for operational communication and drone operations, reportedly originated from the White House. Reuters reported on 16/10 that two US officials and one Western official familiar with the matter stated Pentagon leaders "received a message that Starshield services for the Ukrainian military needed to be slowed down". These sources did not specify which individual at the White House made the decision or who was tasked with implementing the order.
Starshield is a secure communication service utilizing enhanced encryption technology and specialized military terminals. It primarily operates on the Starlink satellite network deployed by SpaceX.
 |
A Starlink terminal antenna in Izyum, Kharkov, 9/2022. Photo: AFP
The restrictions, which began on the night of 13/10, caused significant disruption to Ukraine's military operations. Serhii Beskrestnov, technology advisor to the President of Ukraine, stated that military Starlink devices ceased functioning when vehicles moved above 160 km/h. "We received no prior warning about this, which disrupted some operational missions," he added. A senior Ukrainian official told the Financial Times that the restrictions appeared in the middle of the night without warning. "Frontline logistics and the ability to conduct strikes against Russian rear areas are severely hampered," the official stated.
Ukrainian commanders expressed strong concerns about the impact. "This is nothing short of a nuclear attack on Ukraine. All operations have stalled, and many of us risk paying with our lives. All Starlink and Starshield terminals have had a speed limit of 100 km/h applied since the night of 13/10," a commander of a Ukrainian medium-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) unit told Politico.
 |
President Zelensky (left) and President Trump at a meeting in New York on 22/9. Photo: AFP
When Reuters asked if President Donald Trump issued the directive, a senior US official affirmed, "There was no such request from the President." The White House has not commented on whether other officials had the authority to issue the directive. Ukrainian officials contacted senior figures at the White House, the US Department of State, and the Pentagon on 14-15/10 seeking an explanation. A senior Ukrainian official said Kyiv was also informed this was "a White House decision."
An official from Ukraine's Ministry of Defense later stated that connectivity was restored, but only at a maximum speed of 160 km/h. Billionaire Elon Musk emphasized that Starshield is owned and controlled by the US government. He added that "all limitations on speed and connectivity are decided by the US military and ultimately the US President."
Thanh Danh (According to Reuters)
