Ukraine says Starlink restricted operations overnight, disrupting military missions

The operation of some Starlink internet terminals appeared to be restricted overnight, a technology adviser to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday, disrupting Ukrainian military missions as Russia launched targeted strikes on the country's energy infrastructure.

Ukraine uses the satellite system controlled by SpaceX owner Elon Musk for its battlefield communications, but the tech titan has shifted his stance on Ukraine several times since Russia's invasion in 2022.

"Tonight SpaceX introduced a speed limit for the Starlink terminals in motion," said the adviser, Sergiy Beskrestnov.

"Our defence forces were not warned about this restriction, which led to the disruption of a number of missions," he added. "Obviously, this action cannot be a coincidence and is linked to the current political situation," he added.

US President Donald Trump called for a pause in attacks on energy infrastructure while moving to ease sanctions on Russian diesel.

Read moreTrump, Zelensky clash over diesel deal as Russian strikes on Ukraine kill at least 21

A senior Ukrainian official told AFP that the disruption "severely restricts logistics, first and foremost".

Ukraine's ​7th Rapid Reaction Corps, deployed in the southeast, added that units ‌had been forced to cancel some missions.

"According to our observations, during flights, the connection could drop for 10–20 seconds at speeds of just 110–120km/h. The drones kept moving, but these interruptions made them ‌harder to control," it said in a statement to Reuters.

Ukraine has been using Starlink terminals to provide satellite internet connections as an alternative to radio control for its drones.

"Some restrictions were already being reported yesterday evening. So, in effect, it is happening in sync with this morning's Russian ballistic attack," the official added.

Trump wrote in a social media post Sunday that "Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!"

But there is no sign either side is ready for such a ceasefire, with Ukraine reporting that a Russian missile struck a power plant in Kyiv on Tuesday evening.

Zelensky said in August that Kyiv was seeking to develop an alternative to Starlink in partnership "with a European country" that he did not identify.