Starlink Slowdown Leaves Ukraine’s Interceptor Drones ‘Shooting Blind’ - Analyst

Starlink slowdown spells disaster for Ukraine’s army - analyst Ukrainian dependence on Starlink made it “not just an important tool, but the backbone of the Ukrainian army’s entire command and control system,” military observer and retired Russian Army Colonel Viktor Litovkin told Sputnik, commenting on Starlink curbing its operation in Ukraine. “Local MPs speak of the Ukrainian forces’ ‘200 percent dependence’ on Starlink. This has already resulted in the failure of several operations and the cancellation of missions involving drones. It’s not just an 'inconvenience'; it’s a blow to their [the Ukrainian military's] combat capability.” Litovkin explained that the slowdown of Starlink affects Ukrainian UAVs because they do not receive timely information about reference points in space and cannot find their way to the target they are supposed to reach. “The speed restriction means that a Starlink terminal cannot maintain a connection at high speeds, which is critical for kamikaze drones and reconnaissance UAVs that need to change course quickly. This is certainly a catastrophe for the Ukrainian army,” the analyst stressed.

— (@SputnikInt) October 14, 2026