The Ukrainian army accuses Starlink of being restricted / Critical military missions may have been affected

The Ukrainian army experienced disruptions to its Starlink satellite communications service on the night of October 14, according to Serhiy Sternenko, a former adviser to Ukraine’s defense minister. He claims that the signal began to be restricted at speeds above 160 kilometers per hour, compromising several important missions.

Sternenko says SpaceX may have taken the measure at the request of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. Regular satellite communications terminals reportedly continued to function, he said in a message posted on Telegram.

According to his statements, Ukraine has refrained in recent days from attacks on Russian oil refineries and energy infrastructure at Trump’s request. He questioned whether this policy would continue, accusing the U.S. administration of weakening Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.

The incident comes amid problems involving the exchange of military intelligence. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Ukrainian army did not receive data for two days about the launch of ballistic missiles at Kyiv. Washington cited unfavorable weather conditions, an explanation disputed in Kyiv.

The Financial Times reported that White House officials allegedly threatened to halt the exchange of intelligence if Ukraine continued attacks on Russian oil refineries. Trump later said that the provision of intelligence to Kyiv was continuing.

Starlink has been operational in Ukraine since 2022 and is essential for communications on the front lines and drone piloting.