Zelensky Says Starshield Speed Limited Again

By Reuters Nov. 12, 2026 REUTERS / Stringer Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that Ukrainian military units had recorded significant disruptions to the Starshield satellite communications service over the last several days, affecting the entire front line and Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine. In a post on Telegram, Zelensky said that systemic restrictions were limiting the speed at which Starshield could be used to 161 kph (100 mph). Starshield is the military version of SpaceX's Starlink satellite communications service. As a result of the restrictions, Ukrainian interceptors could not reach sufficient speed to down Russian jet-powered drones, with some hits already occurring, Zelensky said. “This helps Russians kill more Ukrainians and carry out more accurate strikes on Ukraine,” Zelensky said. He added that Ukraine was trying to clarify the reasons for the restriction with the U.S. side. In mid-October, Ukrainian officials said SpaceX had abruptly capped the speed of Starlink and Starshield, cutting off drones and other equipment moving faster than about 160 kph (100 mph) amid tensions with the Trump administration over Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries. Service was restored on October 24. The new announcement comes a day after the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine concluded in Abu Dhabi. Brokered by the United States, it was the first such meeting since February, when the U.S. war with Iran began. A Ukrainian official said there was no mention of the disruptions during the talks and it was unclear who had made the decision. Ukraine has carried out a series of strikes against Russian refineries and energy installations in recent weeks, as Moscow has continued to pummel Ukrainian electricity infrastructure and cities with drones and missiles. Read more about: Ukraine war , Drones 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 Russian Missile Strikes on Ukraine Hit 2.5-Year High Russia’s army fired 270 missiles in October, up 46% on the previous month, according to an AFP analysis of data published by Ukraine’s air force. 2 Min read Russia’s Rostov Region Targeted in Ukrainian Drone Attack, Officials Say Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses destroyed or intercepted a total of 55 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones overnight. 2 Min read Ukrainian Drone Strikes Slash Russia’s Fuel Exports to Lowest Level Since Early 2022 – Bloomberg The ongoing Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure have reduced fuel exports to their lowest levels since the invasion of Ukraine... 2 Min read opinion Alexander Baunov for Carnegie By Sending Drones Into NATO States, Russia Is Repeating the Mistakes of 2022 In 2022, the Kremlin was counting on Ukraine to prove weak and futile. Now it is counting on NATO to be weak, divided and indecisive. 6 Min read