US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to journalists from Magno News as cited by RBC-Ukraine, stated that Ukraine currently has no access to the Starshield military satellite system. According to him, the Ukrainian side had requested such access to carry out long-range strikes deep into Russian territory, but, as the Secretary of State emphasized, this access has not been granted yet. Rubio also categorically rejected accusations that US authorities were involved in disruptions to Starlink and Starshield, calling such reports "categorically false information"ა.
Washington's Position: No Orders to Slow Down
Responding to questions about potential connection speed restrictions, Rubio stated that "no one in the White House ordered anyone to slow down the internet or reduce connection speed so certain drones could not use it." According to him, as far as he knows, the system is currently operating normally again. Thus, Washington distances itself from any accusations of intentional interference with the satellite communications used by the Ukrainian military.
Kyiv's Version: Interceptor Guidance and the 160 km/h Limit
The statements of the US Secretary of State diverge from the position of the Ukrainian side. Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to the Ukrainian president on defense technologies, told AP in an interview that Ukraine uses Starshield to control interceptor drones. It is precisely for this service package, according to him, that a speed limit of 160 km/h has been in effect since the night of October 14. Beskrestnov emphasized that Starshield is not used on Russian territory or for strikes against Russian oil refineries, and the imposed limit has still not been lifted. Kyiv, he said, is holding talks with the Pentagon, SpaceX, and the US government on this issue.
The Role of Musk and Trump Regarding Restrictions
SpaceX owner Elon Musk previously noted that the Starshield system belongs to the US government, and restrictions on it are set by the US military and ultimately the country's president. US President Donald Trump himself assured that he did not issue an order to restrict the system's operation. These statements form an additional dimension of discussion: formal responsibility for Starshield's operating parameters lies with American military structures, according to Musk, while the White House and the head of state personally deny initiating any restrictions.
Context: Parallel Truce Negotiations
Rubio's statements about Starshield came against the backdrop of his other reports regarding diplomatic efforts. Speaking on the OAN television channel, the Secretary of State reported that Russia has expressed interest in a limited truce with Ukraine, which should include an end to mutual strikes on energy infrastructure. According to him, such an agreement could partially reduce global tension, and the US intends to continue efforts to achieve it. The issue of access to satellite communications and drone control in this context remains one of the key technical and political points where the positions of the parties do not yet align.
