Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, an adviser to the President of Ukraine, reported in his Telegram channel on new consequences of American restrictions on the operation of the Starlink "military package" for Ukraine. According to him, the speed limit introduced in the terminals has not been lifted and now affects not only the use of drones, but also the critically important data transmission channel for combat helicopters. Beskrestnov emphasized that a significant portion of conventional Shahed drones are shot down precisely by helicopters flying at speeds exceeding 160 km/h — and it is at this threshold that Starlink terminals lose connection.
Jet Interceptors and Shaheds: A Vulnerable Link
As the presidential adviser explained, due to the current speed limit, jet interceptors cannot fully protect the Ukrainian skies from jet modifications of Shaheds. Helicopters, which are the primary means of combating conventional Shaheds, are deprived of a reliable communication channel with command and between crews, reducing the effectiveness of their operations amid massive air attacks. Beskrestnov bluntly stated that the sudden US decision "effectively destroys a significant part of Ukraine's defense against enemy air attacks."
Chronology of Restrictions and Kyiv's Reaction
Last week, it became known that the US imposed restrictions on the Starlink "military package" for Ukraine: terminals began to lose connection if the drone carrying them accelerated above 160 km/h. Against this background, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly appealed to SpaceX owner Elon Musk, urging him to lift all restrictions and emphasizing that human lives depend on their removal. Musk, in turn, shifted the responsibility to the US military and government, stating that "only they" could introduce such restrictions.
Washington Distances Itself
US President Donald Trump stated that he "did not make the decision" regarding restrictions on Starlink operations for Ukraine. Thus, neither the White House nor Musk personally take responsibility for the imposed restrictions, although their practical consequences for Ukrainian defense have already been recorded. According to RBK-Ukraine, Kyiv views the situation as a systemic problem requiring a prompt solution at the intergovernmental level.
Context: Why the Helicopter Communication Channel Is Critical
In conditions where drone air attacks have become the main tool for targeting infrastructure and troops, helicopter interceptors serve as the "last line of defense" before a drone reaches its target. The loss of a stable communication channel via Starlink means that crews do not receive real-time data on the courses, coordinates, and types of incoming targets. This reduces reaction time and interception accuracy, which, combined with the terminal speed limit, creates a dual effect: helicopters not only receive information more slowly but also lose connection themselves when gaining combat speed.
