Ukraine lost more than $1 million worth of weaponry after armed drones lost their satellite internet connections amid disruptions to Starshield, a Pentagon-funded satellite internet service, according
to a report by The New York Times.
A senior Ukrainian commander, Oleh, was quoted as saying that dozens of armed drones were flying towards Russian military targets last week when their video feeds suddenly became unclear. The drones had lost their connection to pilots on the ground through Starshield, causing many of them to fall from the sky.
The disruption forced Oleh’s units to suspend almost all operations for three days, including attacks on Russian command posts and fuel hubs.
Such strikes are considered important by Ukrainian forces because they help protect troops holding frontline positions and slow Russian advances.
The reported connectivity problems have, as per the report, intensified tensions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump, with Ukrainian officials questioning whether the restrictions were politically motivated.
Starshield Disruptions Hamper Ukrainian Military Operations
According to the report, the initial disruptions caused Ukrainian drones to lose their connections when travelling at speeds as low as 40 miles per hour. Although connectivity subsequently improved, Ukrainian officials said drones continued to experience interruptions when flying faster than 100 miles per hour.
The restrictions have affected different types of drones in different ways. Some models can operate normally below the speed limit, while others, including those used by Oleh’s troops, need to fly faster to hit their targets.
Ukrainian commanders said the disruptions also affected interceptor systems used to counter Russian drones targeting Ukrainian cities.
Zelenskyy said the speed restrictions had hindered these systems, raising concerns about Ukraine’s ability to defend its population against aerial attacks.
Brigadier General Andriy Biletsky, who recently assumed command of thousands of troops in eastern Ukraine, was quoted as saying that Ukrainian drones using Starshield had previously flown at speeds of up to 250 miles per hour while maintaining stable connections.
He said the formal limit had already been 100 miles per hour but had not previously been enforced.
Ukraine Questions Whether Restrictions Were Politically Motivated
The Starshield disruption has become a point of contention amid deteriorating relations between Kyiv and Washington.
Ukrainian officials have expressed concern that the Trump administration may have ordered the restrictions to punish Ukraine over its attacks on Russian oil refineries and pressure Kyiv into making concessions in the war.
Ukraine has also reported gaps in US military intelligence sharing, delays in the delivery of American interceptor missiles and disruptions to early-warning systems for Russian ballistic missile attacks.
US officials have denied deliberately withholding assistance or disrupting services, according to the report.
Starshield is a military-grade satellite internet system related to Elon Musk’s Starlink service.
European countries pay for Ukraine’s access to Starshield, which is not available to all Ukrainian troops. Many Ukrainian units rely on it to operate drones, while standard Starlink connections are used for more basic communications.
The report noted that Ukrainian officials had reported slowdowns affecting both Starshield and Starlink.
The Trump administration’s statements about the disruptions have varied. A White House official said there had been no changes to satellite internet service in Ukraine. Trump said any change “wasn’t me” and that, according to his understanding, the service remained as it had been.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later acknowledged that a Starlink slowdown had “sort of happened” but said his understanding was that service had been restored.
He also rejected allegations that Washington had deliberately withheld assistance from Ukraine.
On Sunday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on NBC’s Meet the Press that Trump and Rubio had categorically denied that anyone in the administration had caused the disruptions. He called it “very reckless” for Zelensky to make such an allegation.
Ukrainian Troops Fear Further Connectivity Disruptions
Despite improvements in connectivity, Ukrainian commanders remain concerned that the restrictions could return or that satellite access could be cut off abruptly.
Ukraine is seeking alternative solutions, but commanders told The New York Times that the effort is diverting soldiers’ attention from battlefield operations.
Oleh said the disruption prompted frantic calls from troops as they tried to redirect drones and save equipment. He recalled soldiers telling him they felt abandoned and argued that Ukraine needed to reconsider its expectations of the United States as an ally.
Lieutenant Yuriy Butusov, a company commander in Ukraine’s 23rd Assault Regiment, said the slower connections had significantly constrained his troops’ operations.
“This day without Starlink saved many lives and many trucks for Russia, unfortunately,” Butusov told The New York Times.
He added that the consequences for Ukraine extended beyond the financial losses, saying, “It’s a big cost for us. And much more blood. Our blood.”
