Ukrainian authorities claimed SpaceX's satellite internet service Starlink imposed access limits without prior notice, disrupting the military's drone operations and missions.

On Oct. 14, a Ukrainian defence ministry official and a presidential adviser said the move made it difficult to carry out military operations, foreign media including IT outlet The Verge reported.

Serhii Beskrestnov (세르히 베스크레스트노우), an adviser to the Ukrainian president, claimed on social media that Starlink applied speed limits to terminals overnight. He said Starlink access is restricted on equipment moving above 100 miles per hour, and that this disrupted multiple missions. He did not provide specific evidence for the claim. Defence ministry officials also said difficulties arose in military operations, logistics support and drone strikes, and said the exact cause was under investigation.

Beskrestnov said the move was not a coincidence and was related to the current political situation. Controversy grew after Musk criticised Volodymyr Zelenskyy (볼로디미르 젤렌스키) on X, formerly Twitter, saying, "You have gone too far," and allegations of access limits surfaced. Musk posted the message in response to U.S. President Donald Trump taking a negative view of Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries.

Ukraine's military uses Starlink as a means of communication on the battlefield and has carried out remote control and in-mission target changes using drones equipped with satellite terminals. For that reason, if the access limits are real, they could affect the military's drone operations and mission execution. The Ukrainian military has also shown its dependence on Starlink services in the past. In 2023, Musk said he refused a request to activate Starlink to support a Ukrainian attack on Crimea, and Reuters has reported that SpaceX cut Starlink access for frontline units during Ukraine's counteroffensive in 2022, disrupting operations.

By contrast, in February this year SpaceX restricted Starlink terminals used by Russian forces in Ukraine at Ukraine's request. The move was reported to have helped the Ukrainian military's counteroffensive.

Recent Russian ballistic missile attacks against Ukraine have also intersected with the controversy. Ukrainian authorities said earlier this week they did not receive advance warning from international partners about missile attacks that occurred in areas including Kyiv. Trump said an energy ceasefire between the two countries had been reached, but Russian attacks continued. Asked whether the United States would stop sharing intelligence because of Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy facilities, Trump said it was continuing to provide information.

There was also criticism internationally. Polish Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski (라도스와프 시코르스키), who covers Ukraine's Starlink fees, warned Musk on X, saying, "Are you doing politics again with the product," and that European customers were watching the situation.

The issue has again highlighted the impact of a civilian satellite communications service that the Ukrainian military relies on for battlefield operations. With attention focused on the actual scope, cause and duration of any access limits, SpaceX's official position is also in focus.

@RapidResponse47 @POTUS Zelensky has gone too far