Zelensky reports continued Starshield restrictions for Ukraine

Ukraine crisisZelensky reports continued Starshield restrictions for Ukraine According to the head of Kiev regime, the US side offered no explanation for what was happeningMOSCOW, November 13. /TASS/. Starshield, a US satellite communications system used by Ukrainian forces, maintains speed restrictions for Ukraine’s army in the combat zone, Vladimir Zelensky said. "The Ukrainian defense minister and the commander-in-chief of Ukrainian forces have reported on contacts with the US side regarding the Starshield speed issue. A speed limit of 161 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour) remains in place for our forces," Zelensky wrote on his Telegram channel, adding that restrictions cover the combat zone and the adjacent territory. According to Zelensky, the US side offered no explanation for what was happening, so he instructed the Foreign Ministry and the defense minister to "engage more actively with the State Department, the Pentagon and SpaceX to seek clarification and fix the situation." Zelensky added that the Starshield restrictions were creating major challenges for Ukrainian air defenses in employing interceptors against Russian drones. In October, Kiev already complained about Starshield speed restrictions. US entrepreneur and SpaceX founder Elon Musk pointed out that Starlink satellite system should only be used for defensive and civilian purposes and should not be employed in offensive military operations. He also recalled that the US government owns and controls Starshield, a version of Starlink, and that any restrictions are set by the US military and ultimately by the country’s president. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk himself ordered restrictions on Ukraine’s access to Starshield. On November 12, Zelensky said that the Ukrainian army was again subject to restrictions. TagsUkraine crisisGerman parliament approves expansion of intel services’ powers in, outside countryThe reform is criticized by the opposition, who accused the German authorities of seeking to create a "secret police" to control dissentersRead moreRussia withdraws from European Boxing Championship in Croatia citing lack of national flagThe decision was also prompted by problems concerning the issuance of entry visas to members of the Russian delegationRead morePress review: EU rejects security reform, stalls Ukraine peace as Armenia loses CSTO voteTop stories from the Russian press on Friday, November 13thRead moreFormer Ukrainian prime minister calls Kiev’s demand to maintain 800,000-strong army absurdNikolay Azarov noted that Kiev needed financial guarantees from the EU because it was unable to maintain such large armed forces on its ownRead moreEuropean envoy to Ukraine talks must be acceptable to all parties — top Czech diplomatAccording to Petr Macinka, the person selected must command the respect of the West but also be viewed positively by the EastRead moreBridge damage disrupts transport links across Dnieper in Kiev — lawmakerDamage to the bridges over the Dnieper has repeatedly paralyzed traffic in Kiev since late OctoberRead moreRussia does not expect lifting of sanctions against it in medium term — MFAWestern countries have recently begun to employ a sanctions policy with increasing frequency as they are losing their advantages, their "undisputed leadership," Alexander Trofimov saidRead moreRussian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day — top brassUnits of Russia's Battlegroup Center liberated the settlement of Shilovka in the DPR and servicemen of the Battlegroup East liberated the settlement of Voskresenka in the Zaporozhye Region through decisive operationsRead moreUS refrains from tougher measures against Iran on request from regional countries — TrumpUS President Donald Trump stressed that if not for that request, he could go furtherRead moreOver 1,000 foreign mercenaries wanted internationally — Russian investigators284 mercenaries had been convictedRead moreRussian forces push Ukrainian troops 30 km from state border in Sumy Region — expertAndrey Marochko specified that the Russian military continues to steadily expand the buffer zone in this areaRead more