The order to limit the Starshield satellite service used by Ukraine's military came from inside the White House, according to two US officials and a Western official. Relations between Kyiv and Washington have deteriorated in recent days following a meeting in Miami.
Slowing Starshield for Ukraine's military was an order that came from inside the White House, according to two US officials and a Western official briefed on the matter. Leaders at the Defense Department received a message that the service needed to be slowed, the officials said.
Speaking on condition of anonymity and did not say who in the White House made the decision or who was responsible for carrying it out.
Drones lose guidance on moving receptors
Ukrainian officials said this week that military-grade Starlink receptors stopped working when mounted on fast-moving objects. Ukrainian drones rely on them for onboard guidance, and their performance suffered.
A person in Ukraine's Defence Ministry said on Thursday that the receptors now work in motion, but only at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour (160 kph). Ukrainian officials also said the restrictions complicated strike missions against Russian forces and slowed interceptor drones used against Russian Shahed drones.
Senior US official denies a presidential request
Asked for comment, a senior US official said: "No such request was ever made by the president." Still, the White House did not respond to questions about whether other administration officials might have made the request.
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, said on X on Wednesday that any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military or the president, because the US government owns and controls Starshield systems.
Relations with Kyiv sour after Miami meeting
The restriction came as President Donald Trump has pressured Kyiv to stop its attacks on Russian refineries, which he has blamed for soaring energy prices. Experts, however, say the surge in energy costs is mainly the result of the US-Israeli war with Iran.
Relations deteriorated after a meeting in Miami on October 9. There, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff told Ukrainian officials the US was frustrated with continued strikes on Russian refineries, according to a separate person familiar with the matter.
The US delegation also explained its decision to strike a diesel deal under which Russia will supply more than 2.25 million barrels to US and global markets. Some US lawmakers criticized the deal, saying it gives Moscow cash to pursue its war.
Source: CNBC
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