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Ukraine’s drones lose their Starlink link over 100 mph. Musk, Rubio, and Trump all say it’s not them
Fortune • • nation
Key Points:
- Ukrainian military experienced a sudden loss of satellite connectivity for drones and vehicles traveling over 100 mph starting Oct. 13-14, severely impacting their ability to counter fast Russian drones.
- The speed cap affected Starshield, SpaceX’s military satellite internet service, causing connection drops at speeds as low as 37-43 mph in some cases, while Starlink’s civilian service remained unaffected in the EU.
- Ukrainian officials and experts say the throttling undermines Ukraine’s defense capabilities, coinciding with a halt in early U.S. missile warning alerts, suggesting a possible deliberate effort to impede Ukraine.
- Elon Musk denied responsibility, attributing speed restrictions to U.S. government control, while U.S. officials indicated the White House ordered the slowdown, a claim denied by the Trump administration.
- The connectivity issues coincide with recent U.S. administration moves easing sanctions on Russia, including allowing Russian diesel imports and waiving sanctions, raising concerns about weakening Ukraine’s position amid ongoing conflict.
