Article Trump limiting Ukraine's military use of Starlink? (DIY in the energy ceasefire)

[C C]

Sen. Tillis to Musk: Explain Ukraine's Starlink Curbs
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/thom-ti...d/1272803/

INTRO: Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., pressed Elon Musk for answers about sudden restrictions disrupting Ukraine's military satellite communications, warning that deliberately weakening the country's defenses could assist Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine reported disrupted drone missions and only a partial restoration of satellite service Wednesday.

Musk, meanwhile, said the U.S. government controlled restrictions on Starshield, the military satellite service. Tillis asked Musk in a post on X to "please tell me these overnight disruptions to Starlink terminals in Ukraine were unintended — that @SpaceX is doing everything it can to fix a temporary glitch.

"I'm confident this does not reflect a change in SpaceX policy because if so, intentionally degrading Ukraine's ability to defend itself might be construed as aiding and abetting a mass murderer," Tillis wrote, referring to Putin.

"Can you confirm that's not SpaceX's intent?" he added. "Supporting Ukrainian sovereignty — or at the very least, allowing for it — should not be a gray area for the U.S. government or for American corporations. Can you clarify the SpaceX position?" Tillis wrote.

Musk subsequently said the U.S. government owned and controlled Starshield. "Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS," Musk wrote in a post on X, referring to President Donald Trump.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov said SpaceX imposed restrictions overnight without warning, disrupting several military operations. The limits affected Starshield terminals traveling faster than 100 mph.

The restrictions concerned how fast terminals moved, rather than internet download speeds. Ukrainian forces used satellite connections for battlefield communications, long-range strike drones, and interceptors targeting Russian attack drones. Ukrainian forces reported connections also became unstable below the stated speed limit. The Kyiv Independent reported that service later stabilized, but the cap remained in place.

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said Wednesday that Starlink connectivity at speeds up to 100 mph was being restored. "Removing Starshield's speed limit entirely is now critical for Ukraine's defense," Fedorov wrote in a post on X. He thanked Musk and added, "We hope for your continued support."

SpaceX describes Starshield as a government service supporting national security, built on Starlink technology. Starlink, its commercial satellite internet network, has become essential to Ukraine's military since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Wednesday that restrictions could cost lives, calling the disruption a "big mistake."

"People will die, of course, if attacks will continue and if Starlink will not work ... it's not helpful," Zelenskyy said. He expressed hope that a "mistake" or "technical problem" caused the restrictions.

The communications dispute unfolded as Russia continued attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure. At least 600,000 people lost electricity following overnight missile strikes, Zelenskyy said...

[Yazata]

Several points.

1. There are two separate services, Starlink and Starshield.

Starlink is managed by SpaceX who sets Starlink rules. Starshield is supplied by SpaceX under contract to the US government which operates it and set Starshield rules. The latter is much the same as Boeing selling military aircraft to the US Air Force, after which the Air Force operates the aircraft.

2. Starlink is an expressly civilian service. Maintaining that policy is important, since many countries only approve Starlink service in their lands on the understanding that it isn't some kind of American military trojan horse.

3. The speed limits (on how fast Starlink ground terminals can move) are worldwide, not just aimed at Ukraine. I know because Mauricio of RGV Aerial Photography was using a Starlink ground terminal in a Cessna to livestream his flyovers. And a few weeks ago SpaceX put a 100 mph cap on how fast the terminal can move. (Not in Ukraine, in Texas.) When he contacted SpaceX, they told him that he can purchase an aviation plan, like the airlines use. But it's much more expensive.

4. Starlink kits were supplied to Ukraine for civil defense and emergency services use. I believe that SpaceX even waived the fees.

5. I don't believe that Ukraine has been using Starshield, the military version of Starlink. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says they weren't. As far as I know, the only foreign government using Starshield is the United Kingdom.

6. Over the years of the war, Ukraine has been stretching the no military rule for Starlink. They began using it as the backbone of their air defense network. And despite it technically being a violation of the Starlink terms of service, SpaceX looked the other way because it was being used defensively.

7. But more recently, Ukraine has started using Starlink to control long range drones that they have been using to attack deep into Russia.

8. And SpaceX started enforcing the same 100 mph speed limit that they had already enforced in the US. I'm not sure whether that had anything to do with Ukraine violating the Starlink terms of service, or whether it was simply part of a worldwide rollout of the new speed policy what just happened to reach Ukraine.

9. In response Ukraine started screeching that its air defense was crippled and they couldn't fight off Russian attacks. Which doesn't sound very plausible, since the air defense sites (radars and surface-to-air missile batteries) wouldn't be moving. What does move are the Ukrainian attack drones carrying Starlink terminals deep into Russia so as to give them real-time remote control from back in Ukraine.

10. And now we have the European Union ordering SpaceX to ignore their own policies on how individual plans' ground terminals are used, and to also ignore the restrictions on use of Starlink for offensive military purposes. Sorry Europe, you can either get the US government to extend Starshield to Ukraine, which President Trump might be reluctant to do, or else supply Ukraine with an equivalent European capability, which Europe doesn't currently possess.

[Syne]

Great breakdown, Yaz. Thanks.

[stryder]

Several points.

1. There are two separate services, Starlink and Starshield.

Starlink is managed by SpaceX who sets Starlink rules. Starshield is supplied by SpaceX under contract to the US government which operates it and set Starshield rules. The latter is much the same as Boeing selling military aircraft to the US Air Force, after which the Air Force operates the aircraft.

2. Starlink is an expressly civilian service. Maintaining that policy is important, since many countries only approve Starlink service in their lands on the understanding that it isn't some kind of American military trojan horse.

3. The speed limits (on how fast Starlink ground terminals can move) are worldwide, not just aimed at Ukraine. I know because Mauricio of RGV Aerial Photography was using a Starlink ground terminal in a Cessna to livestream his flyovers. And a few weeks ago SpaceX put a 100 mph cap on how fast the terminal can move. (Not in Ukraine, in Texas.) When he contacted SpaceX, they told him that he can purchase an aviation plan, like the airlines use. But it's much more expensive.

4. Starlink kits were supplied to Ukraine for civil defense and emergency services use. I believe that SpaceX even waived the fees.

5. I don't believe that Ukraine has been using Starshield, the military version of Starlink. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says they weren't. As far as I know, the only foreign government using Starshield is the United Kingdom.

6. Over the years of the war, Ukraine has been stretching the no military rule for Starlink. They began using it as the backbone of their air defense network. And despite it technically being a violation of the Starlink terms of service, SpaceX looked the other way because it was being used defensively.

7. But more recently, Ukraine has started using Starlink to control long range drones that they have been using to attack deep into Russia.

8. And SpaceX started enforcing the same 100 mph speed limit that they had already enforced in the US. I'm not sure whether that had anything to do with Ukraine violating the Starlink terms of service, or whether it was simply part of a worldwide rollout of the new speed policy what just happened to reach Ukraine.

9. In response Ukraine started screeching that its air defense was crippled and they couldn't fight off Russian attacks. Which doesn't sound very plausible, since the air defense sites (radars and surface-to-air missile batteries) wouldn't be moving. What does move are the Ukrainian attack drones carrying Starlink terminals deep into Russia so as to give them real-time remote control from back in Ukraine.

10. And now we have the European Union ordering SpaceX to ignore their own policies on how individual plans' ground terminals are used, and to also ignore the restrictions on use of Starlink for offensive military purposes. Sorry Europe, you can either get the US government to extend Starshield to Ukraine, which President Trump might be reluctant to do, or else supply Ukraine with an equivalent European capability, which Europe doesn't currently possess.

There is already a work around potential for speed limits,... relativity. I'd go more into detail on the theory however I'm pretty sure it would upset someone (or a whole bunch of someones)

[C C]

RELATED (scivillage): Germany urges US to lift Starlink restrictions in Ukraine: 'We are paying for it'
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Is Ukraine using Starshield or Starlink?
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-musk-s...ne-russia/

EXCERPT: It uses both. Starlink has been providing internet service to Ukrainian civilians and military forces since 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, according to Reuters. Initially funded by private donors and a U.S. foreign aid contract, SpaceX won a Pentagon contract to pay for Starlink for Ukraine in 2023, along with a contract for 500 Starshield terminals.

In August 2024, SpaceX signed another Defense Department contract to expand Starshield usage to 3,000 terminals for the front lines, Bloomberg reported.

Beyond communicating with and guiding drones over long distances, Starshield also serves another function: It connects every sensor and weapon system on the battlefield. Disruptions to the service have an impact that can be compared to an office having to function without being able to connect to Wi-Fi.

Ukraine's military uses Starlink for general battlefield communications, and Ukrainian civilians rely on it for communications needs, too. On the Russian side, the Kremlin had also been using Starlink until February, when SpaceX cut off its access. As a result, Ukraine gained more than 150 square miles of territory.

Musk and throttling Ukraine's access to Starshield? CBS News reported Tuesday that a decision by Musk led to restrictions on Ukraine's use of SpaceX's satellite communications network, though it remains unclear how Musk's order to curtail service was executed.

Musk had spoken with administration officials multiple times, seeking clarity on the president's thinking on the matter, sources said. He has in the past expressed distaste for the perception that his company could be seen as profiting from the Ukraine war.

The temporary restrictions came as a surprise to some Trump administration officials, who said neither Mr. Trump nor the Pentagon had specifically ordered any limits meant to deliberately disrupt drone operations and battlefield communications.

The president said Monday he was seeking information about who had ordered the slowdown. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday denied the Pentagon had manipulated the service, saying, "We haven't made any directives or anything like that."

Can Elon Musk stop the use of Starlink and Starshield? Musk has not admitted to imposing restrictions on Ukraine's use of Starshield. "Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS," the world's richest person wrote on X.

He added that Starlink is a "commercial service," writing that it is "limited to civilian or defensive activities and cannot be used for offensive military action."

Rubio, however, seemed to attribute the network constraints to Musk. "The president has nothing to do with the decisions that are made by Starlink and Starshield and by Mr. Musk," Rubio told reporters in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Within a few minutes, though, he seemed to concede that Starshield was different: "We don't control what a private company — how they decide their product can be used. Now, if they're in a contract with the United States military, like Starshield, that's a different matter, because that's something we are purchasing and using for our use."

Intelligence-sharing. At around the same time as the Starlink and Starshield disruptions, Ukraine also did not receive warnings from U.S. intelligence about major Russian strikes. Ukraine relies on a mixture of American sensors, aircraft, surveillance and human intelligence to map Russian positions and launch sites.

The early warning system, which is distinct from the SpaceX products, notifies Ukraine when Russia has launched a ballistic missile in its direction. It failed in at least two instances, on Oct. 13 and Oct. 18.

On Oct. 13, Zelenskyy said Ukraine "received no advance warning" when Russia launched a ballistic missile barrage. That overnight attack targeted energy and critical infrastructure in Kyiv and Kharkiv, killing six people and leaving some 600,000 without power.

Ukrainian sources said U.S. officials said the warning system had failed due to "bad weather." Ukrainian officials expressed doubt about that explanation and accused the U.S. of "playing" with the system. By 3 a.m., that system seemed to have been restored.

Then on Monday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had been hit by another wave of Russian missile and drone strikes, "and again, there was no warning from partners."

A senior Pentagon official told CBS News Monday there had been "no change to Department of War policy regarding intelligence sharing or any capabilities we are enabling Europeans to provide to Ukraine."

By Wednesday, however, the warning system appeared to have been restored: "Now intelligence works. Thank you so much. That was crucial for us," Zelenskyy said on Fox News.