"This is a planned operation." Zelensky says the internet for Ukraine was intentionally slowed down
The US, however, is denying this. What is known?
"This is a planned operation." Zelensky says the internet for Ukraine was intentionally slowed down
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the White House did not issue an order to restrict SpaceX's satellite internet for the Ukrainian military. His remarks contradict Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's claims that internet terminals still cannot function on high-speed moving devices.
Over the past week, Ukrainian officials and the military have been reporting that the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost the ability to use satellite internet terminals mounted on drones.
Problems with SpaceX services in Ukraine became known late last week, at a time when relations between Kyiv and Washington chilled sharply. Back then, President Donald Trump criticized Zelensky for striking oil refineries in Russia and reached an agreement with Vladimir Putin to supply several shipments of diesel fuel to the global market.
Shortly thereafter, the Ukrainian military told journalists that speed restrictions on the devices had begun to gradually disappear, but the service had not yet been fully restored.
On Saturday, answering journalists' questions, Zelensky said that the maximum speed at which Starlink terminals currently continue to operate is 161 kilometers per hour. "According to the reports I have seen and heard, after that Starlink turns off completely and we lose the drone," Zelensky said.
He added that due to such restrictions, the Ukrainian military was deprived of the ability to deliver food and water to fighters in positions. "This is very important in places where troops or equipment cannot pass, in areas where isolation has occurred due to the control of enemy drones," Zelensky said.
Throughout the week, US officials repeatedly denied reports that satellite internet for the Ukrainian military had been restricted.
"I have no idea who that could be, because it wasn't me, and I don't think it was Elon either. As I understand it, everything is as it was before," Trump said on October 16 in response to journalists' questions about the reasons for the restrictions.
The US Secretary of State also reacted to Zelensky's statements that the maximum speed of devices equipped with satellite internet had been reduced.