Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky challenges SpaceX over Starshield as US raises Donbas proposal

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Kyiv says restrictions on military-grade Starshield terminals have left Ukrainian forces less able to intercept Russian jet-powered drones

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Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has accused SpaceX of hampering his country’s defences by maintaining speed restrictions on its Starshield satellite terminals in Russian-occupied territory. The limits, which Ukraine says have been in place for five days, are making it harder for its forces to intercept Russian jet-powered drones before they reach Ukrainian cities.

Zelensky dismissed the company's explanation that the restrictions were caused by a “technical issue”, telling reporters on Saturday: “We do not believe that is the case.”

He warned that limiting the service in occupied territory carried political implications, adding: “If you impose restrictions there, you are already partially recognising the temporarily occupied territories as not ours.”

SpaceX has denied imposing restrictions or changing its satellite operations.

Zelensky also revealed that US negotiators had asked whether Ukraine would withdraw from Donbas in exchange for Nato membership during talks in Abu Dhabi. “This was the first time this had been raised,” he said, insisting Kyiv would not surrender its territory.

Volodymyr Zelensky has accused SpaceX of maintaining speed restrictions on Starshield, its military-focused satellite communications system, saying they are leaving Ukrainian forces less able to intercept Russian drones.

The restrictions have been in place for five days, with terminals in Russian-occupied territory capped at 161km/h, he said.

“We do not believe that is the case," Zelensky told reporters on Saturday, rejecting SpaceX’s explanation that the problem was technical.

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