Ukraine loses tracking above 160 km/h as satellite access curbs persist

Ukrainian officials confirmed on Friday that restrictions on their access to Starshield remain in effect, contradicting earlier assertions from Washington. This military-grade satellite network, operated by SpaceX, is essential for Kyiv to track incoming threats. The dispute over the current status of the service has intensified diplomatic friction between the two allies.

Zelenskyy stated that since the curbs began, Ukrainian defense systems have been unable to track drones or missiles traveling faster than 160 kilometres per hour. This specific speed barrier has complicated the interception of Russian jet-powered drones and missiles. Ukrainian leaders say this technical gap has directly led to civilian casualties, including children, during recent strikes.

Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the issue on Friday from Istanbul. He described the decision to limit access as having clear human consequences. Carney pointed to a strike in central Kyiv that occurred within the previous 36 hours. He characterized it as a direct hit on citizens with no military target present, calling the resulting suffering immense. He noted that some recent deaths are direct casualties of the reduced tracking ability.

Responsibility for the restriction remains contested among U.S. figures. Reuters cited two U.S. officials who said the order originated inside the White House. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Elon Musk personally ordered the cut. Musk has maintained that Starshield is controlled by the U.S. government and that the military decides on restrictions. President Donald Trump denied ordering the curbs, stating on Friday that he did not know who did and would not say even if he did.

Trump claimed on Thursday that Musk had restored Ukraine's access. Zelenskyy contradicted this in a CNN interview, stating the system still does not work. Ukrainian military officials reaffirmed on Friday that the limitations persist. In a Sunday interview on NBC, Zelenskyy suggested the American government sent a message to limit speed, which SpaceX then executed technically.

The restrictions arrive as relations between Kyiv and Washington reach a low point. Trump is pushing Ukraine to accept stronger concessions in a peace deal and to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries. Although Starshield is not used for drones over Russian territory, the broader diplomatic tension influences how Kyiv views its dependence on U.S. infrastructure.

Zelenskyy signed a letter of intent with Finnish companies Nokia and ICEYE on Thursday. The agreement aims to develop a Ukrainian satellite communications network. This move seeks to reduce reliance on the U.S. system. Carney noted that Canada is also moving to diversify its own capabilities, acknowledging a high reliance on foreign systems that may change their views.