The order to slow the satellite system that Ukraine’s military uses for battlefield communications and drone operations came from inside the White House, according to two U.S. officials and a Western official briefed on the matter, Reuters reported Thursday. The disclosure ties a sudden technical restriction on the front line to a widening political rupture between Washington and Kyiv, one that has played out over refineries, diesel, intelligence sharing and a public call for Ukraine’s wartime commander in chief to be replaced.
What Starshield Is and Why Ukraine Depends on It
Starshield is the military-grade version of SpaceX’s Starlink service. It was developed specifically for government and national-security customers, particularly the U.S. Department of Defense, and uses the Starlink constellation as its backbone. The Pentagon is its biggest customer, and Reuters reported in 2024 that the department has bought dedicated Starshield satellites, including communications spacecraft for missile-warning missions and a spy constellation for the National Reconnaissance Office.
For Ukraine’s drone forces, the difference between the two services is practical. Ukrainian defense sources say the standard Starlink terminals mounted on drones are limited to about 160 kph, and that faster aircraft need the military version. Public data indicates Ukraine began using Starshield in 2024.
A Tense Meeting in Miami
Relations between Kyiv and Washington deteriorated after a meeting in Miami on October 9 that brought together representatives from both countries, as well as Europe and the World Bank. A separate person familiar with the matter told Reuters that Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff took a tough tone with Ukrainian officials. They said the United States was frustrated that Kyiv kept striking Russian refineries despite repeated requests from Washington to stop.
The U.S. delegation also explained its decision to strike a diesel deal with Russia, saying the White House hoped it would soften Moscow’s stance on peace talks. Under the arrangement, Russia will supply more than 2.25 million barrels of diesel to U.S. and global markets. Trump announced it the same day, saying Russia would supply over 300,000 tons immediately, with larger volumes to follow, and the Treasury Department temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian diesel.
Trump and Zelenskiy Trade Public Criticism
In the days that followed, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called the U.S. decision on Russian diesel “weak,” and Trump told reporters, “I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal.” Zelenskiy answered on Sunday that critics blaming him for the war’s continuation “can’t find a key how to stop” Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also said Ukraine would be willing to hold elections if Russia agreed to a full 60-day ceasefire.
Elections cannot be held under the martial law in force since February 2022, a restriction set out in Ukrainian law. Zelenskiy has also said Ukrainians in Russian-occupied areas would have to be able to vote freely, and that voters’ safety would need to be guaranteed.
Behind the scenes, American officials threatened to stop providing Ukraine with intelligence about Russian missile launches, which Kyiv uses to thwart attacks, as Reuters previously reported. Trump said on Tuesday that Washington was still sharing intelligence with Ukraine.
Drones Lose Connection Overnight
The Starshield restrictions surfaced overnight on October 13 to 14. A unit of Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces reported that drones relying on the service could lose connectivity for 10 to 20 seconds at speeds as low as 110 to 120 kph. Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov, an adviser to the Ukrainian president on defense technologies, said the cap applied to the Starshield “military package” and was set at 100 miles per hour. Ukrainian officials said the change came without warning.
Ukrainian officials told Reuters the restrictions complicated strike missions against Russian forces and logistics in occupied territory. They also slowed the interceptor drones used to shoot down incoming Russian Shahed drones. Zelenskiy said Russia was trying to exploit the problems because interceptor drones “rely significantly on this connection.”
Kyiv Seeks Answers; Washington Denies a Presidential Request
After the restriction took effect, Ukrainian officials made calls on Tuesday and Wednesday to senior officials at the White House, the State Department and the Pentagon. A senior Ukrainian official told Reuters that Kyiv was told it was a White House decision. The officials who described the order said leaders at the Defense Department received a message that the SpaceX service for the Ukrainian military needed to be slowed. They did not say who in the White House made the decision or who was responsible for carrying it out.
Asked about the order, a senior U.S. official said: “No such request was ever made by the president.” The White House did not respond to questions about whether other administration officials might have made the request. SpaceX, the Defense Department and the Ukrainian embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said on X on Wednesday that because Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government, any limits on speed or usage are decided by the U.S. military or the president.
Partial Restoration, Open Questions
A person in Ukraine’s Defence Ministry said Thursday that the terminals were working again while in motion, but only at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour (160 kph). Ukrainian official Mykhailo Fedorov wrote on X that the next step is to lift the cap on Starshield entirely, saying, “Removing Starshield’s speed limit entirely is now critical for Ukraine’s defense.”
Why the Fuel Price Fight Sits Behind It
The move came as Trump pressed Kyiv to stop its attacks on Russian refineries, which he has blamed for soaring energy prices that are hurting his Republican Party’s prospects in the November midterm elections. Experts told Reuters the surge in energy costs is mainly the result of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which brought Iranian attacks on energy facilities and has largely shut the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. diesel averaged $6.28 a gallon on October 8, up from $3.68 a year earlier.
The diesel deal has drawn a backlash from some U.S. lawmakers, who say it will give Moscow cash to pursue its war without forcing Putin to make concessions. A bipartisan group that includes Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and John Curtis warned it could have “deadly consequences.” They also noted that Congress passed a ban on Russian energy imports in 2022. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the administration is working within its legal authorities.