"Is the transmission speed fully restored to its previous level? No. Is the speed gradually recovering? Yes," President Volodymyr Zelensky stated today at a press conference in Brussels, Belgium, following a meeting with European Union (EU) leaders. He was referring to the limited Starlink satellite internet connectivity in Ukraine over the past week.

"Partners told me that the White House sent a message requesting SpaceX restore the service," he added, indicating efforts to address the issue.

President Zelensky speaks at a press conference in Brussels, Belgium, October 16. Photo: Reuters

Since the night of October 13, Starlink terminals and Starshield military communication services in Ukraine have ceased operating when vehicles moved faster than 160 km/h. Serhii Sternenko, a former advisor to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, reported on October 14 that restrictions were further tightened, severing connections with drones at speeds of 60-70 km/h.

President Zelensky described this situation as "a very unpleasant and dangerous surprise." He emphasized that these speed limits on Starlink and Starshield mean Ukrainian forces "cannot shoot down a certain number" of enemy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

"In other words, we cannot use one of our defense tools. That is very painful," he said.

The discussion around aid and international relations also touched upon former President Donald Trump. When asked if President Donald Trump was making him a "scapegoat" for America's troubles, President Zelensky merely smiled and remained silent. "This is my answer," the Ukrainian leader said, prompting laughter from reporters at the press conference.

President Trump previously stated that working with Russian President Vladimir Putin was easier than with President Zelensky, amidst ongoing tensions in US-Ukraine relations.

"Yesterday, as many as 1,000 UAVs attacked Ukraine, yet the US says it's difficult to engage in dialogue with Zelensky, while working with Putin is less challenging," the Ukrainian leader said.

Nevertheless, Zelensky said Ukrainian and US negotiators might meet soon. "Our team is still in regular contact with them. I think in the coming days, both sides will agree on a meeting at some level," he stated.

Ukrainian UAV carrying a Starlink terminal before being shot down by a Russian drone. Photo: Rubikon Center

Serhii Beskrestnov, a technology advisor to the President of Ukraine, affirmed that the speed restrictions on Starlink terminals do not only impact mid- and long-range UAV attacks. Air defense capabilities are also significantly diminished because many high-speed interceptor drones, developed to counter Russian jet-powered drones, also use Starlink terminals.

Sources within Ukraine's Ministry of Defense emphasized these are "top priority tasks" but did not disclose the specific scale of the impact. Since the Starlink network does not operate over Russian territory, disruptions only occur within Ukraine and areas controlled by Moscow after the conflict erupted.

To avoid disconnection, Ukrainian UAVs must fly below the speed limit. This significantly impacts the maneuverability of fixed-wing UAVs and makes them more susceptible to being shot down by Russian forces, while interceptor drones cannot catch up with enemy jet-powered UAVs.

"This is no different from a nuclear attack on Ukraine. All operations have stalled, and many of us risk paying with our lives," a commander of a Ukrainian mid-range UAV unit stated.

Vu Hoang (According to AFP, Reuters, AP)