Starshield Connectivity Begins Dropping on Ukrainian Drones at Speeds Above 72 km/h

On the night of October 14, SpaceX unilaterally restricted the operation of Starshield terminals in Ukraine.

According to sources in Ukraine’s Defense Ministry who spoke to Militarnyi, the Defense Forces received no advance notice of the changes.

Starshield is a secure satellite communications system SpaceX developed for government, military, and intelligence users.

Across different unmanned platforms and units, connectivity drops at different speed thresholds, ranging from 72 to 161 km/h. The specific threshold depends on the platform on which the terminal is installed.

Once the terminal exceeds the set speed, it loses connectivity. The restriction affects unmanned systems that rely on Starshield for control and data transmission while moving.

In particular, the changes complicate missions involving drones, including interceptor drones and medium-range strike drones, known as mid-strike drones.

The restrictions also complicate frontline logistics, reconnaissance missions, and the use of drones as communications relays.

As of October 14, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry was in contact with the United States, SpaceX, and NATO partners to establish the circumstances surrounding the restrictions and identify possible solutions.

The ministry is also collecting information from Defense Forces units on how the changes affect terminal operation. Existing backup communications channels are being reviewed as well.

Volunteer Serhiy Sternenko, who supplies drones to the Defense Forces, suggested that SpaceX likely took these measures at the request of the U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.

The restrictions may be part of pressure from the Trump administration on Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries.