The key facts

  • Kyiv reports Starlink outages and restrictions; according to Ukrainian media, SpaceX temporarily limited the speed of moving terminals to ~160 km/h
  • According to CSS ETH Zurich estimates, about 50 thousand terminals were used in Ukraine in 2025; Starlink is critical for communications, reconnaissance and drones
  • Musk: Starshield is controlled by the US government, Starlink is a commercial service; European alternatives such as Eutelsat/OneWeb are untested in combat conditions

Restrictions and fears of shutdown

In recent days, Kyiv has repeatedly reported outages and restrictions in the operation of the Starlink satellite internet service, causing widespread concern that the service could be restricted or shut down. According to Ukrainian media, on the night of Tuesday SpaceX temporarily introduced a speed limit for terminals in motion — to roughly 160 km/h. This directly affects fast Ukrainian drones, some of which reach speeds of up to 300 km/h: if the connection is lost, real-time video transmission and control cease, and the vehicles are forced to continue flying 'blind'.

Starlink's role in the war

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has actively used SpaceX's Starlink for communications and data exchange even with destroyed infrastructure and cellular networks switched off. According to the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich, about 50 thousand terminals were used in the country in 2025. They are used to transmit orders between command levels and to receive video from drones. The network's importance is partly explained by the start of the war: according to CSS analysis, the KA-SAT satellite system previously used by Ukraine was hit by a cyberattack a few hours before the invasion, and Starlink quickly became a vital alternative.

Starlink and Starshield: what's the difference

The terms Starlink and Starshield are often used as synonyms, but Starlink is SpaceX's commercial satellite internet service, while Starshield was created specifically for government and military needs on the same technological base. This distinction matters because the recent reports of restrictions concern primarily military-purpose systems. Elon Musk recently stated that Starshield systems are controlled by the US government, whereas Starlink is a commercial service operated by SpaceX.

Drones and reconnaissance

Beyond communications, Starlink is mainly used for drone operations, providing internet connectivity to ground, sea and aerial vehicles. This makes it possible to transmit video in near real time and control drones over long distances — for reconnaissance and strikes deep behind the front line. According to ETH Zurich, images and GPS coordinates of Russian positions are also transmitted through these channels for artillery and operation coordination. Starlink and Starshield are only one component of Ukraine's defense: the country also receives intelligence from Western partners on Russian airstrikes, missile launches, troop movements and air defense positions. According to reports, the US is restricting access to its intelligence, causing no less alarm than the possible restriction of Starlink. Other NATO countries, such as the UK and France, can also provide intelligence, but not on the same scale.

Strategic dependence

Europe has alternatives to Starlink, including Eutelsat/OneWeb, but their ability to match Starlink's performance in combat conditions has not yet been tested at scale. The recurring fears of restrictions show that satellite connectivity has become a central element of Ukraine's defense. Dependence on a single provider simplifies operations but demonstrates how much modern armies depend on private technology companies — experts call this a fundamental change in the waging of war. Ukraine's successful use of Starlink has contributed to the system's worldwide fame.