Ukraine Reports Continued Starlink Disruptions Despite Trump’s Claim Restrictions Were Lifted

Ukraine is still experiencing disruptions to its Starlink satellite communications network despite US President Donald Trump’s claim that Elon Musk had restored the service, according to sources within Ukraine’s defence ministry cited by the BBC.

The sources said Ukrainian forces were continuing to record connectivity losses affecting drones travelling at speeds of up to 161 kilometres per hour (100 mph). The disruptions have complicated military operations by interfering with communications and the transfer of battlefield information.

Last week, Ukrainian officials reported that restrictions on satellite uplink speeds were affecting the performance of military drones. They said drones travelling faster than 100 mph were losing their connections, limiting their effectiveness in attacks and defensive operations.

The military was closely monitoring both Starlink and Starshield, a more secure satellite communications service used for certain military activities. They added that there was no confirmation that the reported restrictions had been fully lifted.

Trump said on Thursday that Musk had restored the service, but declined to confirm whether he had personally contacted the technology billionaire about the issue. Musk had previously denied being responsible for the slowdown and suggested that Starshield, which is controlled by the US military, could be affected by decisions involving the Pentagon.

The White House has repeatedly denied deliberately restricting Ukraine’s access to the network.

Starlink has become a critical communications tool for Ukrainian forces, providing internet connectivity in remote areas and on the battlefield. Starshield also supports some drone operations, allowing operators to receive information about targets and coordinate missions.

Ukrainian soldiers told the BBC that even brief interruptions could delay the transfer of orders and operational data. One soldier warned that completely losing access to the system would be a major setback, while another said troops had returned to methods used before Starlink became widely available.

The dispute comes amid wider tensions between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil infrastructure and Washington’s policy towards Moscow.

Zelensky previously said he was awaiting information from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the network’s performance. The Wall Street Journal also reported that Trump had expressed frustration over the continued speed restrictions.

The latest reports highlight Ukraine’s dependence on satellite communications and the challenges of maintaining reliable battlefield connectivity during the war.