Zelenskyy on Starlink restrictions for Ukraine: "This is big mistake, people will die"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly asked SpaceX founder Elon Musk to lift restrictions on Starlink services for the Ukrainian military and warned that the decision would cost lives.
He said this on October 14 in an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, Censor.NET reports.
"This is a big mistake"
Zelenskyy commented on the Starlink restrictions imposed without warning on Ukrainian drones. According to him, the move will lead to casualties if Russian attacks continue while the network is not operating at full capacity.
"We understand what is happening. It is their decision. Of course, this is a big mistake. Huge losses. This decision will lead to a great loss of human life. People will die, of course, if the attacks continue and Starlink is not working," the president said.
Message to Musk
Zelenskyy addressed Elon Musk directly as the owner of SpaceX, which provides Starlink services, and expressed hope that the restrictions were a mistake or a technical malfunction.
"I very much hope this is a mistake, perhaps a major technical problem. We are asking for it to be switched on, and I believe that would be fair and just — as it should be between partners," he added.
Restrictions on Starlink operations in Ukraine
- On October 14, volunteer and former adviser to the defence minister Serhii Sternenko said that SpaceX had restricted the operation of Starlink terminals for the Ukrainian military overnight. According to him, this had "disrupted a number of important missions". Restrictions were imposed on data transmission depending on the speed of UAVs using Starlink.
- Serhii Beskrestnov, known as Flash, later confirmed the information. According to him, the restrictions could also complicate the use of drones that intercept jet-powered Shaheds.
- Units of the 7th Air Assault Corps also said they had begun experiencing Starlink connectivity problems in the Huliaipole sector overnight. The problems concern the Starshield package — the so-called military package, which previously had no data transmission speed limits.
