Zelenskyy blames SpaceX speed limits for crippling Ukraine's drone interception

Résumé détaillé

Ukrainian president says interceptor drones lose connection with operators when travelling faster than 161 kilometres per hour.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused SpaceX of restricting the speed of Starshield satellite terminals, saying the measure prevents Ukrainian interceptor drones from pursuing Russian jet-powered Shahed drones.

In a statement on Telegram, Zelenskyy said on Sunday that Ukrainian interceptor drones lose their connection with operators when travelling faster than 161 kilometres per hour, making it difficult for them to catch up with the faster Shaheds.

He said the restrictions were affecting Ukraine's ability to protect energy infrastructure from Russian attacks.

"The Russians are targeting substations with Shaheds. And many of these strikes get through precisely because the restrictions on the speed of Starshield terminals along the front line and in the temporarily occupied territories remain," he said.

"We expect these restrictions to be lifted. The protection of lives and of Ukrainian energy before winter depends directly on this," he added.

Zelenskyy said he had instructed Ukraine's foreign ministry, defence ministry, and presidential office to coordinate as closely as possible with the US side and SpaceX on the issue.

Ukrainian officials said SpaceX introduced a speed limit of 161 km/h for Starlink and Starshield terminals in Ukraine on October 14.

Ukraine said the terminals were operating at higher speeds again on October 24.

However, Zelenskyy said on Thursday that Starshield terminals were again losing connectivity when moving faster than 161 km/h.

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