The key facts
- Zelensky confirmed the restoration of access to Starlink and Starshield after talks in Oslo, but suggested new problems could arise amid the US elections.
- Elon Musk said SpaceX eliminated the technical capability of using Starlink for offensive UAV strikes.
- Also, according to Zelensky, the United States resumed full-scale intelligence sharing with Kyiv.
Zelensky suggested new Starlink disruptions could occur
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky did not rule out new difficulties with the operation of the Starlink satellite system, despite its recent restoration of access. In an interview with the TV channel TSN, he linked possible problems to the upcoming US elections: «We will see how things go, because every day we see different moments, and during the United States elections there can be any challenges, but nevertheless, for today this is a positive, and we need it very much». According to him, the satellite communications situation has improved for now, but he considers it premature to draw conclusions about Starlink's future stability. Zelensky also suggested that the American elections may be accompanied by new circumstances affecting the interaction between Kyiv and Washington (Life.ru).
Restoration of access and intelligence sharing
Earlier, Zelensky announced the restoration of Ukraine's access to the Starlink and Starshield satellite systems. According to him, after talks with the American side in Oslo, Washington also resumed full-scale intelligence sharing with Kyiv (Life.ru).
Musk's position on the use of the system
Meanwhile, SpaceX head Elon Musk spoke about restricting the use of Starlink by Ukrainian forces for offensive drone attacks. According to him, the Ukrainian Armed Forces had previously used a technical capability that allowed the civilian satellite system to be used for strike operations. Musk said the company eliminated this capability last week, emphasizing that Starlink is intended for civilian tasks and communications, not for controlling offensive attacks (Life.ru).
Why this matters
Starlink is critical for Ukrainian army communications, so even temporary restrictions on the system directly affect the combat capability of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and Zelensky described the restoration of access and intelligence sharing as a «positive» that the country «needs very much». Musk's statement about eliminating the possibility of offensive drone use shows that the Ukrainian side's access to the system is now technically limited to civilian tasks. In practical terms, this means that the reliability of Starlink's operation for Kyiv, as Zelensky himself acknowledged, remains uncertain and depends on the political situation in the United States.
