Zelensky says Ukraine's military satellite service is throttled again, SpaceX denies it
Kyiv says Starshield, the military version of Starlink, cuts out above about 100 mph and hampers drone interceptors, but SpaceX says nothing has changed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday, Nov. 12, that Starshield, the military version of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite network, is again under "systematic speed restrictions." He said units have recorded significant disruptions for several days along the entire front line and in Russian-occupied areas. Ukraine says its interceptor drones lose their satellite link if they fly faster than about 100 miles per hour, which Zelensky says makes it harder to stop Russian jet-powered drones.
A Ukrainian official said limits were 10% on the first day and 50% on the second, and that 100% of missions now fail. SpaceX denied it, telling Axios and the Washington Examiner there has been no change. Denys Sienik, Ukraine's chargé d'affaires in the US, said Kyiv has no clarification from SpaceX or the Pentagon.
Zelensky said the restrictions started just before President Trump's envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The envoys were expected to meet Zelensky later in Dublin. Ukraine reported a similar problem in October, and Musk later said Ukraine had broken Starlink's terms of service.
The Congressional Ukraine Caucus demanded a full accounting.
- 100 miles per hourspeed above which Starshield cuts out, as Zelensky describes itWashington Examiner
- 100%share of missions failing now, per a Ukrainian officialAxios
- 50%limitation on the second day, per a Ukrainian officialAxios
- 10%limitation on the first day, per a Ukrainian officialAxios
- three dayshow long the restrictions have run, per a Ukrainian officialAxios
Three sides of the story
16 news outlets reported this · Little coverage from conservative outlets
Tap a color or swipe sideways to switch sides.
Liberal8 outlets
Ukraine asks Washington and SpaceX for answers
Axios opens with Ukraine asking the Pentagon and SpaceX to explain the restrictions, then gives SpaceX's reply: "This is false. There has been no change." It adds the Congressional Ukraine Caucus saying it is "extremely alarmed."
CBS News ties the story to diplomacy as Witkoff and Kushner landed in "a snowy Moscow." It reports that one Ukrainian source is certain SpaceX imposed the limits, that people familiar say Musk decided on last month's cut after talks with Trump administration officials, and that Zelensky blamed no one. It quotes European Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier urging urgent restoration.
The New Republic opens by asking whether Musk is "messing with" Ukraine's access again and notes the October order reportedly came from the White House. The Daily Beast recalls Trump denying he asked Musk to restrict the network, and the Journal's report that Trump called Musk to ask him to restore full service.
It says it has contacted the White House and SpaceX.
- Axios: Zelensky says Musk-owned satellite system throttled again, Space X denies it
- CBS News: Ukraine says Starshield throttled again as U.S. pushes for a deal
- The New Republic: Ukraine Loses Starlink Access as Jared Kushner Lands in Russia
- The Daily Beast: Zelensky Says Starlink Restrictions Have Returned
Center6 outlets
Zelensky's claim of a repeat slowdown
UPI leads with Zelensky saying Starshield has been slowed down again, and quotes his post that the limit is 161 kph (100 mph). It recalls that Musk first said SpaceX had not slowed the system, then said it had because Ukraine violated its terms. UPI also recounts the October rift, when Trump waived on Russia and Zelensky answered that "Gifts to Putin will not bring peace."
Newsweek's headline carries Zelensky's word "systematic" for the curbs. It reports Zelensky saying soldiers noted "significant disruptions" along more than 700 miles of front line, and labels the piece a breaking story. NewsNation reports Zelensky saying Starlink was "deliberately slowed again," calling the slowdown "not random" and tying it to more deaths in Russian attacks.
Forbes reports Zelensky saying the renewed restriction let Russian drone strikes breach Ukraine's defenses.
- UPI: Ukraine says Starshield service throttled again as U.S. envoys visit Moscow
- Newsweek: Ukraine Hit By New 'Systematic' Starshield Restrictions, Says Zelensky
- NewsNation: Zelensky: Starlink deliberately slowed again as Russia attacks
- Forbes: Zelenskyy Says SpaceX’s Starshield Restrictions Have Returned—Disrupting Ukraine’s Drone Defenses
Conservative2 outlets
SpaceX denies Zelensky's claim of renewed throttling
The Washington Examiner's headline and first paragraph lead with the denial: SpaceX told it Zelensky's claim is false and that nothing has changed on Starshield. It then gives Zelensky's account of cutoffs at about 100 miles per hour and his words that Ukraine "simply cannot catch up with them in time." It reports the Ukrainian Embassy, through Denys Sienik, saying the limits "started gradually several days ago" and that Kyiv has no clarification from SpaceX or the Pentagon.
It looks back to October: roughly 10 days of disruption, resolved Oct. 24, with Musk saying Ukraine used Starlink for offensive strikes. Musk wrote that the "loophole was closed." It says Trump and Musk reportedly worked in tandem then, amid White House frustration over peace terms and Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries.
It also notes Zelensky floated that someone in America may be making choices treating Ukrainian territory as not Ukrainian, while Witkoff and Kushner touched down in Moscow.
- Washington Examiner: SpaceX denies latest Zelensky Starshield claims
- Centrist outlets did not mentionSpaceX's denial that anything changed on Starshield Reported by Axios, Washington Examiner
Which side made the stronger case?
We will email you when the story continues. At most one email a day.
All sources: 20 articles from 16 outlets
Liberal (10)
- Axios: Zelensky says Musk-owned satellite system throttled again, Space X denies it
- Business Insider: Ukraine says the Starshield speed limit is back and Russian 'strikes have already gone through'
- CBS News: Ukraine says Starshield throttled again as U.S. pushes for a deal
- NBC News: Ukraine says Starshield is being limited again, hampering its defenses against Russia
- Semafor: Ukraine says its facing Starlink disruptions again
- The Daily Beast: Murdoch Paper Shreds Trump and His Goons With Brutal Question
- The Daily Beast: Zelensky Says Starlink Restrictions Have Returned
- The Guardian: Russia strikes hospital in central Kyiv after SpaceX system falters again
- The Guardian: Ukraine hit by ‘significant’ Starshield disruptions as US envoys meet Putin, Zelenskyy says - Europe live
- The New Republic: Ukraine Loses Starlink Access as Jared Kushner Lands in Russia
Center (8)
- Forbes: Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Is Still Seeking Clarity From U.S. On Renewed SpaceX Starshield Speed Limits
- Forbes: Zelenskyy Says SpaceX’s Starshield Restrictions Have Returned—Disrupting Ukraine’s Drone Defenses
- Military Times: Putin lets Europe join Ukraine peace talks, as Kyiv says Starshield disrupted again
- NewsNation: Zelensky: Starlink deliberately slowed again as Russia attacks
- Newsweek: Ukraine Hit By New 'Systematic' Starshield Restrictions, Says Zelensky
- The Wall Street Journal: Opinion | Ukraine Reports More SpaceX Disruptions (opinion)
- The Wall Street Journal: Ukraine Says Its Military Starlink Is Disrupted Again, Hurting Defenses
- UPI: Ukraine says Starshield service throttled again as U.S. envoys visit Moscow
Conservative (2)
- New York Post: Ukraine military faces SpaceX Starshield speed restrictions again, Zelensky says
- Washington Examiner: SpaceX denies latest Zelensky Starshield claims
The evening briefing by email
One email a day, around 8:30 p.m. New York time: the seven main stories, each with its three sides, and the blind spot of the day. Unsubscribe with one tap.
A Telegram channel is coming soon.