Germany has officially appealed to the United States, demanding the removal of restrictions on the use of the Starlink satellite communication system in Ukraine. According to the Kyiv Post, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that Berlin is demanding explanations from Washington regarding the cause of the disruptions, emphasizing that the underlying reason has not yet been established. «These restrictions must be lifted», he said, adding that Ukraine must continue to receive full support. Separately, Berlin noted that Germany partially financed the acquisition of the relevant equipment and has a vested interest in ensuring the service continues operating at full capacity.
Chronology of the Starshield Network Outage
According to sources within the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, the incident occurred on SpaceX’s Starshield satellite network, which serves government agencies as well as military and security operations. On October 14, the system reportedly applied speed restrictions unexpectedly and without prior notice. Ukrainian sources claim this affected unmanned aerial vehicles, reconnaissance, logistics, and frontline communications. Communication with Starshield was restored on October 15, according to the same sources, though it remains unclear whether the speed restrictions are still in effect. Kyiv is in contact with relevant parties to determine the cause of the disruption.
Kyiv's Assessment and SpaceX's Position
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the restrictions on Starlink operations cost the country human lives, though he did not name the person who made the decision. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, in turn, stated that Starshield belongs to the U.S. government and is controlled by it. According to him, any speed or usage restrictions are determined by the U.S. military and, ultimately, the President of the United States.
What Is Known About the Causes and Next Steps
At the time of writing, the reason for implementing the restrictions has not been established by any publicly commenting party. Berlin insists on receiving explanations from Washington, Kyiv is in contact with relevant agencies, and SpaceX’s position boils down to the fact that decisions on limits are made by the American side. Thus, the key issue remains not only the technical restoration of the communication channel but also a political clarification of who imposed restrictions on a network serving military operations, and on what grounds.
