---
title: "Hegseth: \"We haven't restricted anything\" — Pentagon denies reports of Starlink restrictions for Ukraine"
description: "Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth stated that the US has not restricted Starlink for Ukraine and has not changed its policy toward it. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy discussed the \"restoration\" of the satellite service and Patriot supplies with Rubio on the same day."
date: 2026-10-20T20:47:55.171Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/hegseth-pentagon-starlink-ukraine-patriot
tags: [pentagon, starlink, ukraine, patriot-missiles, hegseth, zelensky, russia-ukraine-war, us-policy]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Hegseth: "We haven't restricted anything" — Pentagon denies reports of Starlink restrictions for Ukraine

## Key Points

- Hegseth stated that the US has not issued orders to restrict Starlink for Ukraine and Washington's policy has not changed
- According to Hegseth, Starlink makes decisions independently within the framework of its terms of service
- Hegseth confirmed that the US priority is providing the US Army with Patriot interceptor missiles
- Zelenskyy discussed the restoration of Starlink and Patriot supplies with Rubio on October 20, and the parties agreed to continue contact
- Ukrainian media report Starlink speed restrictions in recent weeks, affecting drone interception and launches

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth stated during a press briefing on October 20, 2026, that United States policy regarding Ukraine has not changed and Washington has not issued any orders to restrict the operation of Starlink satellite communications on Ukrainian territory. When asked by a journalist whether these words apply to Starshield — the military version of the satellite service — and whether any technical restrictions had been introduced, Hegseth replied categorically: "We haven't restricted anything." According to him, there are terms of service that must be followed, and in this case, Starlink may make its own decisions independently. "But from our perspective, nothing has changed. We haven't issued any orders or anything of the sort. And we, of course, wish the Ukrainians success," the US military department head emphasized.

### Context: Starlink speed restrictions in Ukraine

Hegseth's statement came against the backdrop of reports in Ukrainian and international media that Ukraine has faced restrictions on Starlink satellite internet speeds in recent weeks. According to journalistic investigations, these restrictions affect both the system for intercepting enemy unmanned aerial vehicles and the launch of their own drones, creating serious operational problems for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Notably, on the same day, October 20, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that he discussed intelligence data on Russian ballistics, supplies of interceptor missiles, and the restoration of Starlink with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to Zelenskyy, the parties agreed to maintain contact in these areas. The wording "restoration of Starlink" indirectly confirms that the Ukrainian side is recording changes in the service's operation, although the Pentagon does not directly acknowledge these changes.

### Patriot interceptor missiles: US Army priority

Separately, Hegseth commented on the issue of supplying Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine. According to him, the United States primarily wants to ensure that these missiles are available in sufficient quantities to the US Army. "Certainly, in matters concerning assets such as interceptor missiles, we want to make sure that our service members also have the maximum possible number of them. And President Zelenskyy knows this," the Pentagon chief summarized. This position coincides with information published in the media the day before: according to Ukrainian and western publications, the Trump administration is delaying the supply of Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine, and Hegseth reportedly has not approved the transfer of these missiles, but has not formally rejected it either.

### Diplomatic track: Zelenskyy and Rubio

Against the background of these statements, a telephone contact took place between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Marco Rubio on October 20. According to information voiced by the President of Ukraine, three key issues were discussed during the conversation: intelligence data on Russian ballistics, the situation with interceptor missiles, and the restoration of Starlink operability. The parties agreed to continue contact in all three areas. Thus, while the Pentagon publicly denies introducing restrictions, at the level of bilateral negotiations, the topic of restoring the satellite service figures as relevant and requiring a solution.

### Assessment of the situation

Hegseth's statements lead to the conclusion that Washington maintains its course of supporting Ukraine at the public level, but at a practical level, priorities in the distribution of limited resources — primarily interceptor missiles and, according to indirect data, satellite communication bandwidth — are shifting towards meeting the needs of the US armed forces. The wording "we haven't restricted anything" does not exclude that restrictions could have been introduced at the level of the commercial operator Starlink within the framework of the "terms of service" mentioned by Hegseth, without a direct order from the Pentagon. It is this zone of responsibility — between the military department and the private satellite operator — that remains the most opaque and raises the most questions for the Ukrainian side.

## Accounts differ

### Starlink restriction for Ukraine

- **Pete Hegseth (Pentagon):** The US has not restricted Starlink and issued no orders; Starlink makes decisions independently within its terms of service ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/pentagoni-zaperechuyut-shcho-ssha-obmezhuvali-1792528928.html))
- **Ukrainian media:** In recent weeks, Ukraine has faced Starlink speed restrictions, affecting the interception of enemy drones and launches of its own ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/pentagoni-zaperechuyut-shcho-ssha-obmezhuvali-1792528928.html))
- **Volodymyr Zelenskyy:** Discussed the issue of "restoring Starlink" with Marco Rubio on October 20, indicating changes in service operation from the Ukrainian side ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/pentagoni-zaperechuyut-shcho-ssha-obmezhuvali-1792528928.html))

*Where they agree:* Ukraine records changes in Starlink's operation affecting operational tasks; the topic is discussed at the level of presidents and the secretary of state

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [В Пентагоне отрицают, что США ограничивали Starlink для Украины](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/pentagoni-zaperechuyut-shcho-ssha-obmezhuvali-1792528928.html) - Hegseth's direct quotes on Starlink and Patriot, context on Patriot delays and Starlink restrictions, information on the Zelenskyy-Rubio call on October 20

## FAQ

### Did the US restrict Starlink operation for Ukraine?

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth stated that Washington has not issued any orders to restrict Starlink. According to him, Starlink makes decisions independently within the terms of service. At the same time, Ukrainian media report service speed restrictions in recent weeks, and Zelenskyy discussed the "restoration" of Starlink with Rubio on October 20.

### Why is the US delaying Patriot supplies to Ukraine?

Hegseth explained that the US primarily wants to ensure that interceptor missiles are available in sufficient quantities to the US Army. According to media reports, Hegseth has not approved the transfer of missiles to Ukraine, but has not formally rejected it either.

### What did Zelenskyy and Rubio discuss on October 20?

According to Zelenskyy, the conversation covered intelligence data on Russian ballistics, supplies of interceptor missiles, and the restoration of Starlink. The parties agreed to continue contact in all three directions.