Starlink Slambat, Ukrainian drone Fly Blind

The President of the United States Donald Trump denies limiting Ukrainian access to Starlink's escort network, Starshield. The network limits the speed of the drone so it prevents Ukrainian ability to protect itself from Russian attacks.

"That's not me and I don't think it's also Elon (Musk),

Musk himself suggested the U.S. government is behind such restrictions, while the Reuben news office reported the order coming from inside the White House.

Ukraine was hit by several deadly attacks following a network delay. Starlink is a high-speed Internet network for civilian use operated by Musk, SpaceX. Starshield, which relies on Starlink infrastructure, is a special version of the military designed for the Pentagon.

Since the Russian invasion in 2022, Ukraine has been using the Starlink Internet. With him, the military can continue to communicate and exchange data, even when infrastructure or cell phone networks are paralyzed.

About 50,000 Starlink terminals were used in Ukraine in 2025. This terminal is a receiver and a special transmitter of the system, allowing communication on the battlefield. These terminals are also used to convey commands and receive drone footage.

Starlink and Starshield terms are often used. Well, Starlink is SpaceX's commercial satellite Internet service, whereas Starshield is for government and military use.

The latest limitation report seems particularly involved in a system used for military purposes. Elon Musk called Starshield controlled by the U.S. government, while Starlink was a commercial operative SpaceX.

Aside from communication, the main starlink is used for drone operations. This system provides Internet connections to land drones, ocean and air.

This connection means video footage can be transmitted almost instantly, while drones can be remote controlled. Ukraine uses this system for reconnaissance and attack far behind enemy lines.

According to ETH Zurich, the images and GPS coordinates of the Russian position are also transmitted through this communication channel. The data was sent to an artillery unit and used to coordinate military operations.

According to Ukrainian media, SpaceX imposed speed restrictions on Starlink terminals up to 160 kilometers per hour. The barrier impacted with Ukrainian drones moving fast, some of them going up to 300 kilometers per hour.

If the connection to the drone is disconnected, live video footage can no longer be transmitted and the system can no longer be controlled real time. As a result, the drone continues its mission in a state of blind flight.

Therefore, limiting or shutting down the Starlink network will not only complicate communications. It will also affect Ukrainian drone operations and other military activities.

Starlink and Starshield, only one key component of the Ukrainian defense system. Ukraine also received surveillance data from Western partners, including Russian air strikes, missile launches, troop movements, and so on.

This information helps with air defense and offensive operations. Without it, it would be a lot harder for the Ukraine to operate a remote drone on targets in Russian territory.

Both elements are effective together. Surveillance data provides target information and potential routes, while Starlink ensures that it can be forwarded rapidly to combat units.

This is why reports that the U.S. limited access to intelligence are as concerned as Starlink's deformity. Another NATO state like England and France also provides surveillance data, but not on a scale of the United States.

Europe has some alternatives to the Starlink, including Eutelsat / OneWeb. However, his skills match Starlink's performance during the war have never been tested on a large scale.