SpaceX's Starlink internet system continues to be throttled in Ukraine as the stakes rise for the war-torn country, Ukrainian officials and a national security expert said Friday.
"Every day matters for Ukraine, because every Ukrainian life matters," wrote Denys Sienik, Ukraine's deputy ambassador to the U.S., in a Friday post on X.
"Our people are waiting for positive news, hoping that the restrictions will be lifted and our defenders will have the capabilities they need to protect lives," Sienik said. "Unfortunately, as of today, nothing has changed. We continue to wait."
Since Oct. 14, Ukrainian officials have accused SpaceX of undermining the country's ability to defend itself by imposing speed limits on Starshield, the military-grade Starlink offering. Any drone traveling above 100 mph lost its connection, disrupting some missions, officials said.
Despite recent comments from President Donald Trump that indicated service was restored, Ukraine's Starshield terminals continued to experience problems on Friday, said Dmitri Alperovitch, chairman of the Silverado Policy Accelerator, a Washington, D.C., think tank focused on energy, defense tech and global trade.