Key facts
- Ukraine uses Starshield for defensive purposes on its own territory, not for offense, President Zelensky said.
- Elon Musk claimed Ukraine used Starlink for offensive drone attacks, violating service terms.
- Starshield was temporarily speed-restricted in Ukraine, impacting military operations.
- Zelensky confirmed Starlink and Starshield were restored to full speed on Oct. 24.
- Civilian deaths occurred while Starlink/Starshield were switched off, Zelensky stated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Oct. 27 that his country has used SpaceX's Starshield satellite systems exclusively for defensive purposes on its own territory, pushing back against claims by SpaceX founder Elon Musk. Musk had alleged that Ukraine violated Starlink's terms of service by using the systems for offensive drone attacks.
Zelensky clarified that the use of Starshield is against Russian troops on Ukrainian soil, emphasizing it is defensive and not offensive. He noted that civilians died while Starlink and Starshield were switched off, and that Ukraine's drone interception rate has since improved to about 90%.
Earlier in October, Starshield's speed was temporarily restricted to 160 kilometers per hour in Ukraine, impacting military operations. Presidential adviser Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov mentioned that commercial Starlink has a lower speed restriction and does not work in Russia. Zelensky confirmed on Oct. 24 that both systems were functioning at full speed again.