In a move that has left Kyiv's battlefield operations sputtering, Elon Musk's SpaceX has imposed a speed limit on Starlink terminals in Ukraine, capping connectivity at 100mph (160km/h). President Volodymyr Zelensky's adviser, Serhiy Beskrestnov, warned that this overnight restriction has already disrupted "a number of missions," and - shockingly - Ukrainian troops weren't even told about it. A Ukrainian defence ministry source confirmed the news to the BBC, because apparently, surprise is the new black.
Starlink, the satellite network that lets Ukraine guide drones into Russian targets and protect its skies, is now apparently too fast for its own good. SpaceX has not publicly commented, presumably too busy tweaking the dial on a global communications lifeline.
The timing is impeccable: at least 600,000 people across Ukraine woke up without electricity after deadly overnight Russian missile and drone strikes, according to Zelensky. Critical energy infrastructure was hit in Kyiv, the capital region, and Kharkiv - despite US President Donald Trump's Sunday claim that an "energy ceasefire" was in place. Three people were killed in Kyiv, local officials said, while Russia proudly announced its "massive" strikes had hit communications and energy facilities used by Ukraine's military. Because nothing says "ceasefire" like a volley of missiles.
In a Wednesday Telegram post, Beskrestnov said SpaceX had "implemented overnight a speed limit on Starlink terminals," resulting in "the disruption of a number of missions." He added, with the subtlety of a sledgehammer, "It is clear that this action cannot be a coincidence and is related to the current political situation." In a follow-up, he stressed that Starlink was the most effective tool for enabling interceptors to shoot down Russia's newly developed jet-propelled drones. A defence ministry source told the BBC: "Last night, we detected restrictions affecting Starlink connectivity at speeds above 160 km/h." The "root cause" is being investigated, presumably by people who understand that satellites don't care how fast your car is going.
Defence ministry sources later explained that "once a vehicle or asset exceeds this [160km/h] threshold speed, the terminal loses its connection." This makes drone operations - "specifically interceptors and middle-strike drones" - more difficult, and degrades "capabilities for front line logistics, reconnaissance, and signal relaying." In other words, everything that makes a modern military work.
Back in February, Musk's decision to deny Russian forces access to Starlink blunted Moscow's advance and caused confusion among Russian commanders. Now, the speed limit is causing confusion among Ukrainian ones. SpaceX has not commented on the reported restrictions, because commenting would require explaining why a satellite internet service has a speed limit that sounds like it was designed for a school zone.
Zelensky has said the US threatened to restrict intelligence sharing if he didn't sign up to Trump's energy ceasefire. Trump on Tuesday denied that Washington was withholding intelligence, which is a sentence that exists.
Overnight, Russia launched 39 ballistic and cruise missiles and 128 drones, according to Ukraine's air force. Four missiles and 115 drones were shot down. It's the second night in a row Kyiv has been hit, and came as Zelensky prepared to meet UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham at Downing Street on Wednesday to discuss accelerating air defence supplies. During the past two nights, ballistic missiles struck the capital without warning, before air raid sirens could even sound. Ukraine relies on US satellite systems to track Russian missiles and issue alerts, which is slightly harder when your satellite terminal has a speed cap.
Meanwhile, the Russian defence ministry said 902 Ukrainian drones had been shot down overnight over several Russian regions, including Moscow and Crimea - the southern peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. On Sunday, Trump wrote on social media: "Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!" Since then, Zelensky has repeatedly said Ukraine is ready to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries and other energy facilities if Moscow did the same. But Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Ukraine does not deserve the "respite" a ceasefire would bring, adding that under any truce, Europe would be able to "pump [Ukraine] with new weapons," enabling it to continue the war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory. Russia's offensive ability is broken, Kyiv's former top general tells the BBC. Six Ukrainian energy sites have been hit by Russia since Trump announced the ceasefire, Zelensky says. So, to recap: a speed limit on satellite internet, a ceasefire that isn't, and a whole lot of missiles. Just another week in the theater of the absurd.