Zelensky: Starlink throttling blocked Ukraine from shooting down Shahed drones

President Volodymyr Zelensky described the consequences of the deliberate Starlink throttling as "painful and unpleasant," saying the reduced speeds directly prevented Ukrainian air defense units from shooting down Russian Shahed kamikaze drones. The connectivity slowdown degraded real-time tracking and coordination systems vital for intercepting the drones.

Beyond air defense, Zelensky said the throttling complicated the delivery of ammunition, supplies, and equipment to front-line positions. Ukraine relies heavily on Starlink for military logistics coordination, and even brief disruptions in remote areas can delay critical resupply operations.

Zelensky emphasized the throttling was not accidental. "It was not a technical problem, it was intentional," he said, pointing to a policy decision by the US side. Ukraine lost both lives and territory during the period when Starlink connectivity was degraded, he implied.