Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenski accused SpaceX of not telling the truth about restrictions imposed on the Starshield satellite system used by Ukrainian forces. Speaking to The Guardian and other media in the presidential palace in Kyiv, Zelenski said the limits have been in effect for five days. He claimed Ukrainian drones can no longer fly faster than 161 kilometers per hour, because at higher speeds they lose connection. Zelenski said the slowdown has hurt Ukraine’s ability to intercept Russian “Shahed” drones powered by jet engines. He also said medium-range strikes on military targets on territories under Russian occupation have been seriously affected. He said he asked Ukraine’s military leadership to raise the issue with SpaceX, which he linked to its owner Elon Musk, as well as with the Pentagon and the US State Department. Zelenski claimed there is no clear explanation for why the operations were limited. According to Zelenski, SpaceX told Kyiv that it was imposing “no restrictions,” and that the problem was described as technical. However, he said he does not believe that explanation is correct, pointing to problems “along the entire front line.” Zelenski said Ukraine conducts system tests every day across different directions and gets the same confirmation. He described it as a widespread problem rather than isolated cases. He added that Ukraine suspects the slowdown could be intentional, aimed at pressuring Zelenski to accept concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenski said the timing matched previous difficulties that appeared last month, alongside Ukraine-Russia talks held in Abu Dhabi with US mediation. In his comments, Zelenski also discussed broader diplomacy and battlefield efforts, but the alleged issue driving the dispute remains the Starshield speed restriction and what Zelenski calls SpaceX’s inconsistent statements. No arrests, charges, or court actions were reported in connection with the accusation, and the status of any formal investigation into SpaceX or the system limits was not stated. Updated 14 November 2026: Added Digi24’s account of Zelenski’s claim that the restriction is political, the 161 km/h cap, daily checks, and his outreach to SpaceX, the Pentagon and the US State Department.