White House Ordered Limits on Ukraine's Starshield Satellite Access, Sources Tell Reuters

An order restricting Ukraine's use of SpaceX's Starshield military satellite system originated inside the White House, according to two U.S. officials and a Western official who spoke to Reuters. Defense Department leaders received a message that the Starshield service for the Ukrainian military needed to be slowed, though the sources did not identify who in the White House made the decision or carried it out.

The restrictions have had direct operational consequences. Ukrainian officials say the limits hindered strike missions and slowed interceptor drone operations. A Ukrainian Defense Ministry official said receivers now function while in motion, but only up to 100 mph (160 kph). A senior Ukrainian official said Kyiv was told the restrictions were a White House decision.

The White House and the Trump administration's account diverges from that. A senior U.S. official told Reuters that "no such request was ever made by the president," and the White House did not respond to questions about whether other officials had made the request. Elon Musk, posting on X, said the U.S. government owns and controls Starshield, making any limitations a decision of the U.S. military or the president. SpaceX, the Pentagon and the Ukrainian embassy did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment.