Ukraine Says SpaceX Limits Starlink Operations, Disrupting Military

By Reuters Oct. 14, 2026 Mil.gov.ua SpaceX has introduced a limit on some Starlink services in Ukraine, disrupting combat drone missions for which the technology is crucial, officials said on Wednesday. The satellite internet terminals from Elon Musk's company are vital for guiding Ukraine's longer-range drone strikes in occupied southern and eastern Ukraine, which have wreaked havoc on Russian logistics. "Our defense forces did not receive a warning about this limitation, and this led to the disruption of several missions," presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov wrote on Telegram. Beskrestnov said SpaceX had stopped the operation of its military-grade version above 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). Ukraine's 7th Rapid Reaction Corps, deployed in the southeast, added that units had been forced to cancel some missions. "According to our observations, during flights, the connection could drop for 10-20 seconds at speeds of just 110-120 km/h [68-75 mph]. The drones kept moving, but these interruptions made them harder to control," it said in a statement to Reuters. A source in Ukraine's Defense Ministry added that the limitations significantly complicate logistics and some drone operations. SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular U.S. business hours. Kyiv under pressure from Washington Although it was not immediately clear why the Starlink service was throttled, the move comes as Washington pressures Kyiv to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries. Starlink does not work inside Russia and the Ukrainian drones hitting Russia's oil industry use other means of communication. Ukraine has already said that it did not receive the usual advance warning from its allies about some recent missile strikes on the capital. Since being turned on over Ukraine in the early days of Russia's invasion in 2022, Starlink has been the lifeblood of Ukrainian battlefield communications, with units using its satellite internet to talk to each other. Over time, its resistance to electronic signal jamming also made it a crucial tool for flying long-range attack drones as well as large hexacopters which drop supplies to Ukraine's frontline. Read more about: Ukraine war Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Ukraine Sees Surge in Inquiries From Russian Families on Missing Soldiers Ukraine established a hotline last year to help Russians locate missing soldiers as part of efforts to facilitate prisoner exchanges. 1 Min read Russia and Ukraine Trade Blame for Attack on Kursk School In a deadly night that saw at least 15 people killed by Russian air attacks in Ukraine, Moscow accused Kyiv of striking a school in Kursk. 3 Min read Russian Missile Attack Hits Odesa, Wounding 7 Photos showed rescuers wheeling a woman on a stretcher outside the Bristol, a five-star hotel in a 19th-century building. 2 Min read Russia’s Human Rights Chief Urges Against Dehumanizing Ukrainian Soldiers “We shouldn’t lose our sense of humanity and see [Ukrainians] only as an empire of evil,” Tatyana Moskalkova said. 1 Min read