SpaceX introduced a speed limit on its military-grade StarShield Starlink service in Ukraine overnight Tuesday, causing connectivity to drop on terminals moving faster than 100 miles per hour.

Presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov said the change affected the military package and led to the cancellation of several missions. Ukrainian forces use the terminals to control drones operating at higher speeds over occupied territory.

The 7th Rapid Reaction Corps confirmed problems on the Huliaipole front, where units experienced brief connection drops even at lower speeds around 110-120 kilometers per hour. Ordinary civilian terminals continued to function normally.

The restriction comes as the Trump administration presses Ukraine to halt long-range strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. Ukrainian officials described the timing as tied to the current political situation, though SpaceX has not commented on the reason.

Russia launched ballistic missiles at Ukraine on Tuesday night without the advance warnings that U.S. partners had previously provided. The combination of the Starlink change and the lack of intelligence sharing further hampered Ukrainian operations.

Starlink has served as a critical communications tool for Ukrainian forces since the early stages of the conflict. The company has previously adjusted access in line with U.S. policy constraints, including limits on use for strikes inside Russia.

Military sources noted that the speed cap primarily impacts fast-moving drones used for strikes and interception along the front lines. No official confirmation has emerged that the White House directed the specific technical change.