Sudden restrictions on Starshield — SpaceX’s military-grade version of the Starlink satellite internet service and the backbone of Ukraine’s drone operations and communication — alarmed the country’s military and government officials this week, with commanders reporting lost drones and disrupted missions.
The episode raised fresh questions about Ukraine’s reliance on the Starshield program and who actually controls access to it.
By Thursday, some Ukrainian units said their connectivity had returned to normal, though uncertainty remained over what had caused the restrictions.
The episode added to tensions between Kyiv and Washington, a relationship already strained by President Donald Trump’s reported deal with Moscow on Russian diesel imports, which Ukraine viewed as a betrayal.
“The Starshield shutdown was short, lasted only one day, but several drones and other systems were affected. Some missions failed, and we lost drones because communications were cut off,” said Yevhen Karas, the commander of Ukraine’s 413th Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment, known as Raid, which specializes in tactical and deep-strike drone operations.
Here’s what to know about the SpaceX satellite services that have become critical to Ukraine’s war effort.
What is Starshield?
Starshield is SpaceX’s satellite program for governments and the military. Built on Starlink technology, it is designed for national security missions and includes secure communications, Earth observation and satellites equipped with specialized sensors. It also incorporates additional encryption and security measures for sensitive government operations.
The Starlink system uses thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit to provide broadband connectivity to terminals on the ground, including in areas where conventional internet infrastructure is unavailable or damaged.
Unlike Starlink, Starshield is tailored to government requirements and can include dedicated satellites and special equipment.
Starshield “is the version where you have much higher speeds, you have better connectivity and it’s not available for civilians; it’s available only for the military,” said Olena Tregub, founder and secretary-general of Ukraine’s Independent Anti-Corruption Commission.
Tregub said reliable, high-speed connectivity was essential for Ukrainian military operations involving drones and units moving rapidly on the ground and in the air. Operators need clear, real-time video feeds to identify what is happening and make decisions, she said.
Ukraine’s increasingly digital battlefield also relies on systems such as Delta, which helps manage and share battlefield data. Transmitting large volumes of information requires fast and reliable connections, Tregub said.
“It’s not just about being able to connect. We need to make sure that this speed is there, that it’s not reduced,” she said, adding that standard civilian Starlink access alone would not meet the military’s needs.
The U.S. government is a major Starshield customer. SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk said this week that the U.S. government owns and controls the system, with decisions about its use resting with the U.S. military and, ultimately, the president. His remarks have fueled questions about who was responsible for the latest restrictions affecting Ukraine.
How are Starlink and Starshield linked?
Starlink and Starshield are different services, but they share much of the same technological foundation, including SpaceX’s satellite engineering and capabilities.
The difference lies in the customer, security needs and end purpose. Starlink provides commercial services, while Starshield is designed for government and national security missions.
The distinction is not always straightforward. Starshield can draw on the wider Starlink satellite network and related infrastructure, while also drawing on separate and dedicated satellites and systems.
Initially developed for commercial use, Starlink became a crucial communications tool after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Its terminals have helped Ukrainian authorities, emergency services and military units stay connected despite Russian attacks on communications infrastructure.
On the front line, the service supports communications between military units and enables operations requiring a continuous connection between drones and their operators, including missions in which operators need to receive video while aircraft are in flight.
The Starlink and Starshield services are not interchangeable, even when they rely on overlapping technology.
For Ukraine, that matters because restrictions affecting particular terminals or military services do not necessarily mean the entire Starlink network has been switched off. Neither does the continued operation of civilian terminals guarantee that specialized military connectivity will remain available.
What happened during the restrictions?
Ukrainian military personnel reported that the restrictions affected terminals transmitting data at high speeds, interfering with some drone missions and causing losses when operators could no longer maintain communications with flying drones.
Responsibility for the restrictions remained unclear after Musk’s comments raised questions about the role of Washington. The Pentagon has not answered questions about the slowdown from The Associated Press.
By Thursday, Karas said his unit’s connectivity had returned to the required speed and its missions were continuing.
“We are very happy,” he said, adding that he did not know whether the episode had been caused by a temporary technical malfunction or something else.
The incident nevertheless reinforced the need for backup communications, he said. Ukraine’s army was preparing alternative solutions, although they would be more expensive and less effective, he added.
—Samya Kullab, Associated Press
Associated Press reporters Hanna Arhirova and Efrem Lukatsky contributed.