White House ordered limits on Starshield use in Ukraine
U.S. and Western officials say Department of Defense was told to slow SpaceX's Starshield; Ukraine reports receivers work only up to 160 km/h while moving.
The decision to limit the military version of the Starlink satellite system used by Ukraine was issued from the White House, according to two U.S. officials and one Western official familiar with the matter.
Those officials said Department of Defense leadership received a message that the operation of the Starshield service from SpaceX should be slowed.
They did not specify who in the White House made the decision or who was responsible for carrying out the order. The Pentagon is the largest customer of Starshield, the military-grade variant of Starlink.
Operational impact reported by Ukrainian authorities
Ukrainian officials this week said military-spec Starlink receivers stopped functioning in Ukraine when installed on fast-moving platforms, which impeded the operation of Ukrainian drones.
The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine said the receivers now work while in motion but only at speeds up to 160 km/h.
Details on the timing of the White House instruction and the technical changes to Starshield have not been disclosed by the officials who spoke about the matter.
Photo: AP)
