Zelensky: Starlink works fine in EU but deliberately restricted in Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Saturday that Ukraine conducted tests of the Starlink satellite internet service in EU member states, confirming it operates normally there. He said the results prove that restrictions affecting Starlink use in Ukraine are a deliberate, planned operation targeting the country specifically.

Zelensky stated that Shahed drone interceptors, which rely on Starlink connectivity to function, have stopped working inside Ukraine as a direct result of the restrictions. These interceptors are a key component of Ukraine's air defense against Russian drone attacks.

A deliberate operation, not a technical glitch

Speaking to journalists online, the president said: "Today, the interceptors of reactive Shaheds that operate together with Starlink are not working." He stressed that identical systems tested on EU territory functioned without any problems, pointing to a targeted restriction that applies only to Ukraine.

The announcement reinforces growing concerns about Ukraine's dependence on Elon Musk's Starlink for military communications and air defense. Zelensky also noted that European partners are developing their own alternative to Starlink and expressed confidence in their eventual success.