Ukraine is in talks with SpaceX and the Pentagon to lift a speed cap on its military satellite communication service, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday, but the country has no explanation for why the restriction was imposed at a time when Kyiv is increasingly at odds with Washington.
The cap, imposed without warning early Thursday, cuts the internet data connection when a communication terminal moves faster than 160 kph (100 mph), which is common for Ukrainian drones equipped with Starshield, the military version of the Starlink satellite service offered by SpaceX. The restriction forced the drones to fly slower than usual, making it easier for Russian weapons to target or evade them.
