Zelensky says Starlink restrictions persist at the front; US officials deny a pause

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that restrictions on Starlink persist and that on different parts of the front the equipment stops functioning at speeds of 130-161 km/h. TASS, Vedomosti and RIA Novosti quoted his Telegram channel, where he wrote that this was being recorded. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]

According to Vedomosti, Zelensky made the statement after a meeting with ministers. He said the problem slows front-line logistics and limits the use of various types of drones, including interceptors of jet-powered Shaheds, and that it should be discussed again with partners at all levels. He also said that not all political agreements with Kyiv had been fulfilled, and that Russian forces had hit 28 substations and other important energy facilities. [ 2 ]

Vedomosti recalled that on 18 October Zelensky accused the administration of US President Donald Trump of restricting Starlink, while stressing that he did not know who exactly stood behind the decision. The same day, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told NBC that Zelensky should be careful with such statements and that no one in the Trump administration had done this. [ 2 ]

RIA Novosti noted that former Ukrainian deputy defence minister Sergei Sternenko said on 14 October that Starlink terminals had been restricted overnight and that the connection began to drop at speeds above 160 km/h. RIA said he later spoke of a lowering of the restriction to 60 km/h. [ 3 ]

Interfax reported that Zelensky then spoke with US senators Thom Tillis, a Republican, and Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, and asked them to influence the Trump administration, at whose initiative Kyiv assumes restrictions on Starlink and intelligence sharing were introduced. Tillis wrote on X that Zelensky confirmed continuing Starlink disruptions, reported interruptions in the exchange of key intelligence with the US and voiced concern about delays in deliveries of air defence interceptor missiles. Tillis also said Pentagon head Pete Hegseth was not approving deliveries of Patriot systems and AIM-9X missiles for NASAMS, although NATO countries had already paid for them. According to Tillis, Zelensky confirmed readiness to stop strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow agrees to do the same. [ 4 ]

Interfax added that Axios, citing informed sources, reported that Zelensky asked the senators to press the Trump administration to lift allegedly imposed restrictions on intelligence sharing and weapons supplies. Trump told reporters in Washington on Monday that he did not know who was behind the Starlink disruptions and would like to find out. Rubio, speaking to reporters in Samarkand, said there had been no pause in intelligence sharing and that he did not know where Zelensky got data indicating one or why he was speaking about it in the media. [ 4 ]