What is Starshield, SpaceX’s military-grade Starlink system, and how will its restriction affect Ukraine?

What has happened to Ukraine’s connection?

On Tuesday night, Ukraine’s military reported the Starlink satellite communications system, produced by SpaceX but managed by the US government, was no longer working on terminals moving at speeds greater than 100mph (160km/h).

Kyiv installs SpaceX Starlink receptors in many of its drones as part of an onboard guidance system. Kyiv said the change was imposed without any explanation from the US.

How does the restriction affect Ukraine?

The restriction had two immediate consequences: It effectively rendered most of the drones used by Ukraine to strike behind the frontlines inoperable and it hampered air defence systems that stop Russian drones bombarding Kyiv.

Ukraine uses Starlink systems to direct many mid-range drones towards their targets – a critical frontline offensive capability. Russian Shaheds fly at speeds close to 200mph, so the new restriction means Ukrainian interceptor drones have no chance to chase them down.

Starlink is not used for long-range Ukrainian missions that have successfully targeted Russian oil refineries in recent months.

What is Starshield?

Starshield is a SpaceX business unit that develops military and intelligence satellite systems for the Pentagon. Starshield’s service is separate from Starlink’s commercial broadband service, but the distinction is sometimes blurry.

Starlink cannot be used for offensive military action, SpaceX says, only defensive activities or for use by civilian clients.

Starshield, however, allows those capabilities and uses enhanced encryption to transmit sensitive information. In addition, Starshield provides users with the ability to integrate sensors on object like drones. Starshield’s secure communications rely on Starlink, the vast network of 11,000 satellites that Musk and SpaceX have sent into space since 2019.

Who made the decision to restrict access, Musk or the Pentagon?

Musk said the Ukrainian military was linked to Starshield, because Starlink is not licensed to clients who are using weapons. He added that any Starshield disruptions being experienced by Ukraine would be the responsibility of the US government, not SpaceX. “Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,” Musk said, referring to Donald Trump.

The White House has not confirmed or denied Musk’s assertion. But the Trump administration has been pressuring Ukraine to limit its strikes on energy targets inside Russia.

What has the reaction been?

Zelenskyy said he felt personally betrayed by Trump, in an interview with Piers Morgan, saying Kyiv was “losing a strong partner”. As for what it meant for Ukraine and its people, Zelenskyy said: “This decision will bring a lot of human losses … of course, people will die.”

In the US, Democrats denounced the Trump administration. “Trump’s making a choice – and it directly aids Putin’s slaughter of Ukrainian civilians,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats said in a post on X, describing the restrictions as “unconscionable”.

Republican senator Tom Tillis voiced his concern on X: “Supporting Ukrainian sovereignty – or at the very least, allowing for it – should not be a gray area for the US government or for American corporations.”