US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has rejected allegations that President Donald Trump’s administration deliberately limited satellite internet services used by Ukrainian drones. However, he acknowledged that Ukraine is seeking access to a separate US military communications system to carry out attacks far inside Russia.
Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Rubio clarified the difference between Starlink and Starshield, two services of Elon Musk’s company SpaceX. He said Starlink is a commercial satellite communications service, while Starshield is used for military and defense needs.
This statement of Rubio has come amid increasing concern over restrictions on satellite connectivity in Ukraine. Ukraine relies on these services to operate high-speed drones on the battlefield and defend against Russian air strikes.
White House did not order to reduce internet speed
“No one in the White House ordered anyone to shut down the Internet or slow it down so that certain drones couldn’t use it,” Rubio said. He said that as per his information, the disruption in service has been resolved and the situation has returned to normal. However, he clarified that this information was based on earlier reports he had received.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also expressed concern about restrictions on satellite-related drone services. This concern has come to the fore at a time when the Russian military is continuously attacking Ukraine’s infrastructure. Rubio rejected allegations of US interference, saying, “We have nothing to do with this.”
Difference between Starlink and Starshield
The US Secretary of State said that Starlink and Starshield operate under different arrangements. He described Starlink as a commercial product, while Starshield was a system developed for defense and military needs. Rubio said the US military uses StarShield and talks are ongoing about Ukraine’s access to the service.
“At present this facility is not available to Ukraine and negotiations are ongoing,” he said. According to Rubio, Ukraine has sought access to this military communications system for the purpose of carrying out attacks deep inside Russia. “They have asked for access to it to carry out attacks far inside Russia. Right now they don’t have access to it,” he said.
American lawmakers demanded investigation
A bipartisan group of nine US lawmakers has called for an investigation into the disruption of Ukrainian military satellite communications services. Lawmakers have asked the Defense Department’s Inspector General to investigate the matter. Lawmakers feared that such barriers could pose a risk to American diplomats, military personnel and security officials. He also sought to find out whether US officials had approved these restrictions or were aware of them in advance.
Rubio dismissed the allegations related to the role of the White House as false. “I saw a report about this the other day. It is completely false,” he said. He reiterated that as per information received by the administration, business services have started functioning normally. However, questions remain regarding the technical reason for the service disruption, its impact on Ukraine’s military operations, and whether all services will be fully restored.
Importance of satellite services in modern warfare
StarShield has been developed for government and national security needs. It also includes special communication facilities. This controversy shows how important satellite communications infrastructure has become in modern warfare. At the same time, it also raises the question of what kind of challenges may be faced by countries that depend on technology controlled by external companies for military operations.
