USA:s förnekelser krockar med uppgifter om Starshield-restriktioner för Ukraina

Därför är det viktigt

Starshield används för kommunikation vid fronten samt för styrning av droner och deres bekämpning. En gräns för överföringshastigheten kan därför påverka både logistik och vapenverksamhet direkt. Uppgifter om att snabbflygande interceptordroner upphörde att fungera väcker dessutom frågor om kapaciteten hos Ukraines luftvärn. Konflikten kring vem som beordrade åtgärden sker samtidigt som Ukraina rapporterar försenade leveranser av militärt stöd och osäkerhet kring överföringen av Patriot-interceptorer.

Vad som hände

Den 14 oktober blev det känt att hastigheten för Starlink begränsades för Starshield-paketet som används av Ukraines militär. Flera viktiga uppdrag stördes, och källor uppgav att förbindelsen begränsades när utrustningen förflyttade sig snabbare än 160 km/h. Zelenskyj sade den 19 oktober att problemet kvarstod på flera frontavsnitt och upppgav en verklig gräns på 130–161 km/h.

The Wall Street Journal rapporterade att Musk personligen bestämde att begränsa Ukraines användning av Starshield. Reuters hänvisade till källor som angav att instruktionen kom från Vita huset. Samtidigt förnekade Trump, Hegseth och Rubio alla påståenden om en amerikansk regeringsorder. Hegseth förklarade den 20 oktober att Washington inte hade ändrat Starshield eller utfärdat några instruktioner och att bolagets rätt att fatta beslut följer av användarvillkoren.

Радіо Свобода повідомила 15 жовтня про відновлення роботи Starshield у русі після контактів із США, SpaceX і НАТО, а Rubio said 17 October, based on what he had heard, that the system was operating again. However, Zelensky’s 19 October account showed that some speed-related restrictions remained in effect.

Så beskriver ukrainska källor det

Ukrainian reports emphasize the operational consequences: disrupted communications, greater difficulty moving equipment along the frontline and reduced use of several drone types. Zelenskyj called the slowdown a major mistake and said the signal to restrict the services came from the US government. Ukrainian officials also reported negotiating with SpaceX, the Pentagon and the US government, while noting that Kyiv had not received an explanation for when or why the restriction was introduced. Ukrainian sources treated the absence of a similar restriction during tests in EU territory as evidence that the action was directed at Ukraine. Commander Yuriy Fedorenko also argued that allowing Starlink to operate on Russian territory would accelerate the end of the war; according to The Wall Street Journal, a proposal advanced by senators Roger Wicker and Kevin Cramer envisaged extending coverage roughly 300 kilometres into Russia in return for a 100-day halt to strikes on Russian oil refineries.

Så beskriver internationella källor det

International reporting focuses heavily on responsibility for the restriction. The Wall Street Journal and The Telegraph point to Musk as the person who initiated it, with reporting that Trump approved or knew of the proposal. Reuters, citing insiders, attributed the order to the White House. International coverage also presents the episode as a coordination problem between Washington, SpaceX and Kyiv, noting reported coordination of public messaging after the restriction became public. Separate comments from Hegseth about depleted US missile stocks and the delayed approval of Patriot interceptors for Ukraine drew additional attention.

Där rapporteringen skiljer sig åt

There is no agreement over who ordered the Starshield speed restriction. The Wall Street Journal and The Telegraph say Musk initiated it, with some reporting that Trump approved or participated. Reuters cites insiders who place the order with the White House. Musk blamed the US military and president, while Trump, Hegseth and Rubio denied any US government order. Zelensky said the signal came from the US government. Sources also disagree over whether service was fully restored: a Ukrainian Defense Ministry source told Radio Liberty that Starshield in motion had been restored on 15 October and Rubio said around 17 October that it was working again, but Zelensky reported continuing failures at specified speeds on 19 October. Accounts of Musk’s direct involvement are similarly divided, with some US officials saying he acted independently and another Wall Street Journal source saying he discussed the matter with Trump and other senior officials before imposing it.

Bakgrund

Ukraine uses both civilian Starlink and military Starshield services, including for battlefield communications and drone operations. The contract runs until April 2027 and is paid for by Germany. On 15 October, The Wall Street Journal reported a proposal under which Starlink coverage would be extended approximately 300 kilometres into Russian territory, enabling Ukrainian forces to target Russian missile launchers. The proposal, put forward by senators Roger Wicker and Kevin Cramer, reportedly tied that expansion to a 100-day pause in strikes on Russian oil refineries.