Ukraine Says Starlink Restrictions Remain Despite Trump’s Assurances
publishers 12articles 13first reported 23 Oct, 09:09 UTCdeveloping since 23 Oct · 9 editions
Ukrainian officials said Friday that speed restrictions on Starlink satellite communications remained in place, contradicting U.S. President Donald Trump’s earlier claim that full service had been restored.
Serhii Beskrestnov, a military expert who advises Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, told The Guardian that officials had seen no evidence the restrictions were lifted. He said isolated connections above the reported cap of about 100 mph appeared attributable to SpaceX algorithms or particular operating conditions.
The limits, in place since Oct. 13, have prevented some fast-moving Ukrainian military equipment, including drones, from maintaining satellite connections. Ukrainian troops reported that the disruption affected offensive drone operations and efforts to intercept Russian attacks.
Trump said at the White House on Friday that he had not spoken to SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk about the issue but would do so if access remained impaired. “If there is a problem, I’ll get it straightened out,” Trump said, while defending Musk as someone who would not intentionally do anything wrong.
The Wall Street Journal separately reported that Trump had called Musk and asked him to lift the restrictions. Asked Thursday about reports of such a call, Trump declined to confirm them and said, “The bottom line: he put it back.” SpaceX’s role in imposing or maintaining the restrictions remained disputed, with both Trump and Musk denying responsibility, according to The Guardian.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 2 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 4 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 12
- Source articles
- 13
- Given to the writer
- 8, 2 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 7
- This version written
- 4 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →