# Starlink speed limits disrupt Ukraine's drone operations

> SpaceX has imposed overnight restrictions on Starlink that Ukraine says are hampering its ability to guide weapons and defend against Russian attacks.
- Title: Starlink speed limits disrupt Ukraine's drone operations
- Summary: SpaceX has imposed overnight restrictions on Starlink that Ukraine says are hampering its ability to guide weapons and defend against Russian attacks…
- Keywords: ukraine, starlink, spacex, elon musk, drones, russia, kyiv, volodymyr zelensky, war in ukraine, news, world, speed
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2d6e62p49do
- Published: 2026-10-14T07:21:50.874+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ukraine, starlink, spacex, elon musk, drones, russia, kyiv, volodymyr zelensky, war in ukraine, news, world
## SpaceX imposes speed limit overnight
Elon Musk's SpaceX company has set a one hundred sixty kilometre per hour speed limit on Starlink terminals without warning Ukraine, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky's adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov.
## Ukraine's drone operations disrupted
The speed restriction has already disrupted a number of battlefield missions, Beskrestnov said on Wednesday. Starlink is vital for guiding drones to Russian targets and protecting Ukrainian skies.
## Defence ministry confirms connectivity loss
A Ukrainian defence ministry source told the BBC that once a vehicle or asset exceeds the one hundred sixty kilometre per hour threshold, the terminal loses its connection, affecting interceptor and middle-strike drones.
## Political timing questioned
Beskrestnov said SpaceX's move cannot be a coincidence and is related to the current political situation. SpaceX has not commented on the restrictions or the reasons for implementing them.

> cannot be a coincidence and is related to the current political situation
## Russian strikes hit energy infrastructure
On the same night, Russia launched thirty nine ballistic and cruise missiles and one hundred twenty eight drones at Ukraine.
## Trump's energy ceasefire disputed
US President Donald Trump claimed on Sunday that an energy ceasefire was in place between Russia and Ukraine. But Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Ukraine does not deserve the respite a ceasefire would bring.
## Zelensky to discuss air defence supplies
Zelensky prepared to meet UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham at Downing Street on Wednesday to discuss accelerating air defence supplies to Kyiv as Russia continues overnight strikes on the capital.
## Key takeaway

Ukraine says SpaceX's new one hundred sixty kilometre per hour speed limit on Starlink terminals has disrupted drone operations and battlefield missions without warning.