Ukrainian sources said on Wednesday, 14 October, that terminals used for front-line communications and drone interception had capabilities restricted overnight, cutting signal when antennas moved faster than about 160 km/h.
Reuters reported that two US officials and one Western official said the order came from inside the White House, while Trump denied giving it on Friday, 16 October.
Zelensky said in Brussels on Friday, 16 October, that services had improved but not returned to earlier levels, while partners cited White House indications of restoration.
Kaja Kallas said on Friday that Europe cannot replace this capacity in the short term, and the EU's satellite network with Eutelsat is far smaller than Starlink.
Zelensky asked for at least 70 billion euros more, saying the war would cost 155 billion euros next year, with 231.5 billion euros mobilised so far.
Several Ukrainian sources said on Wednesday, 14 October, that terminals used on the front line and for intercepting drones had their capabilities restricted overnight, without prior notice. According to the same accounts, the limits cut the signal between a satellite and an antenna whenever the antenna moved faster than about 160 km/h, which complicated missions for interceptor drones and some medium-range strikes. The restrictions applied to Starshield, the military arm of SpaceX's satellite constellation, which Ukraine's armed forces use for battlefield communications and drone operations. Some capabilities were restored on Thursday, 15 October, according to military sources, and a source in Ukraine's defence ministry said Starshield operations resumed the day after the disruption.
Reuters reported that two US officials and one Western official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the order limiting Starshield came from inside the White House. They did not say who made the decision or who was responsible for implementing it. On Friday, 16 October, Trump told reporters that he had not given such an order and did not think Elon Musk had either, as reported by Bloomberg. Musk has said that any slowdown of the Starshield network in Ukraine reflects a decision by the US government, not his company. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski posted an ironic message to Musk on X, asking whether he was again doing politics with his products, while Serhii Beskrestnov, adviser to President Zelensky on defence technology, wrote on Telegram that SpaceX introduced the restrictions overnight without informing Ukraine's Defence Forces.
Speaking at a press conference in Brussels on Friday, 16 October, after attending a European Union leaders' summit as an invited guest, Zelensky said Starlink services had improved but had not returned to earlier levels. He said his partners had told him there were indications from the White House that the capabilities would be restored, and that the US administration had asked SpaceX to restore the service. Zelensky described the episode as a very unpleasant and dangerous surprise, noting that Ukraine relies on these systems to counter Russian drones. On the eastern front, a 28-year-old soldier in an artillery unit told Reuters from a bunker near the line in the Donbas region that internet speed had dropped and contact with command had deteriorated considerably. He said slower connections reduced the army's ability to detect and intercept enemy missiles and drones.
Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, said on Friday that Starlink is truly indispensable for Ukraine and that Europe cannot replace this capacity in the short term. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten said connectivity had been restored, adding that European leaders had discussed with the French president how Europe could offer more services of this kind. Ukraine and its partners have looked at alternatives, including solutions from the French company Eutelsat, but the EU's satellite network with Eutelsat is far smaller than Starlink. Kallas framed the gap as a strategic problem to address in the defence preparations discussed at the summit.
Zelensky asked EU leaders at the European Council in Brussels for at least 70 billion euros more from allies, saying the war would cost 155 billion euros next year. European leaders acknowledged that support is secured for this year but that 2027 is only partly covered. The EU has granted a 90 billion euro loan for 2026 and 2027, of which 45 billion euros is intended for next year, a sum the leaders said would be insufficient. In total, 231.5 billion euros has been mobilised so far, including 117.3 billion euros from the EU budget or guaranteed by it and 77.9 billion euros in military assistance.
Data from the article text
Russian drone attacks on Friday hit a market, a shopping centre and at least two supermarkets in several Ukrainian towns and villages, according to regional authorities and Zelensky. In Odesa, regional head Oleg Kiper said a supermarket was struck in daylight, the building was destroyed and a fire broke out, leaving at least four people injured. A separate drone attack in Kharkiv killed at least two people and injured more than ten, according to mayor Igor Terehov, and a shopping centre was damaged in Rivne. These attacks came after six people were killed in Lutsk on Wednesday.
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Ukrainian sources say military Starshield terminals were restricted overnight without notice, hampering drone interception on the front. Trump denied giving the order on Friday, 16 October.
AI text based on reports by Mediafax.ro, Digi24, adevarul.ro and other publishers. Published .