Ukraine Says Starlink Restrictions Persist Despite Trump’s Claim
publishers 59articles 86first reported 13 Oct, 19:15 UTCdeveloping since 14 Oct · 19 editions
Ukraine said Friday that restrictions on SpaceX’s military satellite service remained in place, contradicting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Elon Musk had restored normal access.
Ukrainian officials said connections continue to drop when equipment travels faster than 161 kilometers per hour (100 mph). The speed cap, first reported on Oct. 14, has disrupted battlefield communications, drone interceptions and mid-range strike missions. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote Friday that “the speed has not been restored,” while Deputy Ambassador to the United States Denys Sienik said “nothing has changed.”
Trump said Thursday that Musk had “put it back,” but declined to confirm a Wall Street Journal report that he had called Musk and asked him to lift the restrictions. Ukrainian defense officials subsequently said they had no confirmation that the limits were removed and continued to observe signal losses.
Responsibility for imposing the cap remains disputed. The Journal reported that Musk ordered the slowdown, citing U.S. officials and others familiar with the matter, while Reuters earlier reported that the directive originated inside the White House. Musk has said limits on Starshield speed or use are decided by the U.S. military or president. The White House and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have denied ordering changes.
Ukraine is also pursuing alternatives. Zelenskyy announced agreements with Finland that include expanded use of satellite capabilities provided through Nokia and ICEYE.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 8 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 234 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 59
- Source articles
- 86
- Given to the writer
- 8, 8 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 234 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 →