Starshield, SpaceX’s military‑grade satellite network, has been a lifeline for Ukrainian drone operations since early 2023. Paid for by European donors, the system offers higher bandwidth than the civilian Starlink and is said to be under Pentagon control. Yet only a subset of Ukrainian units receive Starshield access, leaving the rest reliant on standard satellite links.
On May 28, 2026, Ukrainian commander Oleh reported that 38 armed drones, collectively valued at over $1 million, lost signal from Starshield while en route to Russian targets. The loss occurred at speeds as low as 40 miles per hour, causing the drones to crash before reaching their destinations. Although the service reportedly improved after a week, drones still falter beyond 100 miles per hour.
The sudden loss forced Ukrainian forces to suspend almost all air operations for three days, including strikes on Russian command posts and fuel depots that had been essential to slowing the enemy’s advance. Oleh said the pause exposed gaps in Ukraine’s air‑defense posture, forcing troops to divert attention to ground preparations.
The disruption came days after President Trump reportedly met with Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the conflict, adding pressure on Kyiv. Trump and White House spokespersons have denied any intentional change to Starshield, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio admitted the slowdown had "sort of happened" but claimed it had been restored.
Ukrainian officials have issued warnings that the outages could be a punitive response to attacks on Russian oil refineries, and they have requested clarification on who ordered the cuts. The search for alternative control systems has diverted soldiers from frontline duties, according to several commanders.
Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have called for the U.S. to restore uninterrupted satellite connectivity, and the next week’s congressional hearings will scrutinise the administration’s role in the incident.