Zelensky says Starlink speed not yet fully restored in Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that Starlink services in his country were still being restored, after partial restrictions impeded the military's ability to defend against Russian forces.
"Has the speed been fully restored to what it was before? No. Is the speed being restored now? Yes," Zelensky said at a press conference in Brussels, where he was meeting with European leaders.
"My partners told me that the administration and the White House sent a message to SpaceX asking them to restore it," Zelensky said.
Kyiv reported restrictions to the service, operated by Elon Musk's SpaceX, on Wednesday, shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Ukraine and urged it to stop targeting Russian oil refineries.
Musk said any disruption was the responsibility of the U.S. government, not SpaceX.
"This was a very unpleasant and dangerous surprise," Zelensky said.
Ukraine uses Starshield, Starlink's military-grade satellite service, for its battlefield communications, its mid-range strikes on Russia-occupied territory, and its interceptor drones.
It also uses SpaceX's parallel Starlink civilian satellite system.
Zelensky said slowing down Starlink meant that Ukrainian forces were left "unable to shoot down a certain number" of drones.
"In other words, we couldn't use a tool of defense... That is very painful," he said.
Source: Agence France Presse
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