Ukraine’s contract with the US government for access to the Starshield satellite network expires in the middle of next year, and Kyiv wants to start negotiations on a new agreement as soon as possible.
This was stated by Ukraine’s Chargé d’Affaires in the United States, Denys Sienik, Reuters reports Reuters.
The issue of satellite operations became critical after Ukrainian forces encountered sudden speed restrictions last month. This hindered the interception of Russian drones and led to the cancellation of certain operations. According to the diplomat, neither Washington nor SpaceX provided an explanation for the reasons behind these restrictions. Elon Musk, meanwhile, said that the Starshield network is controlled by the US government.
The satellite situation emerged against the backdrop of other difficulties in relations with the United States. In particular, the Ukrainian side recorded temporary interruptions in receiving intelligence on Russian missile attacks.
What is known about the speed restrictions affecting Starlink terminals in Ukraine
- In October this year, Ukrainian troops reported that Starshield terminals (the military version of the service) began losing connection on platforms moving faster than about 160 km/h. This caused problems for high-speed drones and some other systems.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the speed restrictions on Starlink use in Ukraine were deliberate.
- Some of the restrictions were later eased, or operations were restored at higher speeds. Musk said that decisions on restrictions for Starshield are made by the US government, as the system is geared towards state and military customers.
- At the same time, US media wrote that Musk may have personally ordered restrictions on military satellite communications in Ukraine.
- Amid the disruptions, US congressmen urged the Trump administration to secure the restoration of Ukraine’s full access to Starlink and Starshield. In particular, members of the House of Representatives appealed to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to extend the Starshield contract.
- This is not the first time Ukrainian military missions have suffered because of SpaceX satellite communications. Read more in the LВ.ua article "How Dependent Ukraine’s Defence Forces Are on Starlink and What Alternatives Exist".
- Meanwhile, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has sent letters to private companies urging them to preserve documents ahead of investigations due to take place during the next session of Congress, where Democrats will hold control. Multibillionaire Elon Musk also received such a letter. The investigation will concern the slowdown of the Starshield system in Ukraine.