# How Ukraine’s military uses Starlink — and what a complete US cutoff could mean

https://mins.news/en/item/103475

- Meduza, 2026-10-16 17:15 UTC
- World
- Original: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/10/16/how-ukraine-s-military-uses-starlink-and-what-would-happen-if-the-trump-administration-cut-off-its-satellite-communications-entirely

> The Trump administration restricted Ukraine’s access to US satellite communications amid its dispute with Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukraine’s military said on October 14 that Starshield-equipped drones began losing connections above 160 kilometers per hour, disrupting operations. The speed limit was lowered to 60–80 kilometers per hour the next day, then raised again. The report says Ukraine’s command and communications rely on satellite links and urges commanders to consider a replacement.

## Related coverage

- [Trump denies restricting Ukraine’s access to Starlink network](https://mins.news/en/item/103654) — BBC News, 2026-10-16
- [White House instructed limits on communications services to Ukrainian troops, Reuters reports](https://mins.news/en/item/102558) — TASS, 2026-10-16
- [Why Ukraine’s Starlink scare matters](https://mins.news/en/video/100833) — DW News, 2026-10-15