On the Front Lines, Starshield Stops Working at Speeds of 130-161 km/h — Zelensky

On the front lines, the American Starshield satellite communications system ceases to function when moving at speeds of 130–161 km/h.

This was reported by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

This complicates frontline logistics and limits the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, particularly jet-powered interceptor drones.

“There was also a separate report from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine regarding information from units on the situation with the use of Starlink/Starshield services. Unfortunately, we have observed that in various sections of the front, the equipment ceases to function at speeds of 130–161 kilometers per hour,” Zelensky wrote.

According to the president, the situation is to be discussed again today with partners at all levels.

“Speed matters when it comes to saving lives,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile, on October 15, sources in the Ministry of Defense told Militarnyi that Starshield connectivity had been restored in Ukraine while in motion.

The Starshield system

Starshield is a military and reconnaissance satellite system developed by SpaceX, a company founded by Elon Musk. It was created to meet the needs of the U.S. military, intelligence agencies, and government agencies.

This system can be considered a specialized version of Starlink technology, adapted for U.S. national security missions.

Both systems use related SpaceX technologies, but they are different services.

Starshield may involve the use of dedicated satellites for special missions, rather than relying solely on the Starlink infrastructure.

For Ukraine, this technology is important primarily for ensuring military communications, data transmission, and the operation of drones.