UKRAINE, Nov. 12 — The military once again observes limitations on the speed of drones carrying Starlink terminals with the Starshield defense solution installed, said Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy after listening to reports from Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mykhailo Drapatyi. 

Zelenskyy said that the limitations are imposed across the entire frontline and in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, capping the speed limit for drones carrying the terminals at 100 mph (161 km/hour). He added that the Ukrainian military reviewed the circumstances of the problem and determined that the issue is not accidental technical errors but systemic limitations. 

“This, first and foremost, complicates the interception of Russian jet-powered drones. Sadly, (Russians already) conducted attacks because the interceptor can’t catch up to them because of the speed limit,” Zelenskyy said. 

The first time Ukraine observed restrictions on the speed limit for drones carrying Starlinks was in October. Back then, the restrictions were lifted after two weeks, and US officials and SpaceX were avoiding responsibility for their introduction.  

Apart from the interceptor drones that downed jet-powered Shaheds, the speed limits impacted Ukrainian operations with mid-range drones and drones for logistics. Read more about what military personnel working at the frontline in Kharkiv oblast experienced during the connectivity disruptions here.

⛈️ Winter is coming, and for Ukraine, it is predicted to be awful. Please support our Kharkiv-based newsroom with a $5 coffee to help us withstand whatever Russia has prepared for us.

Read more

  • Peace talks in Abu Dhabi: Kyiv, Moscow agree to major prisoner exchange, but divisions over peace deal remain 
  • ‘You have to come to Ukraine’ — Commander of battalion about collaboration with foreign developers, first mission of AI-powered ground drone, and ground drone technology prospects