On October 16, 2026, it was reported that a directive from the White House has been issued to restrict the military package of Starlink for Ukraine. This decision, as reported by Reuters, is a result of instructions received by the United States Department of Defense.
Details of the Order
According to information provided by two American officials and one Western source, the Department of Defense received a message indicating the need to slow down the provision of the Starshield package, which is the military version of the Starlink service, by SpaceX. However, details regarding who specifically in the White House made this decision remain unclear.
Reactions to the Decision
An unnamed senior American official stated that the president allegedly "never made such a request." Meanwhile, inquiries about who might have been the initiator of this decision went unanswered by the White House.
Impact on Ukraine
The restrictions on the military package of Starlink could have serious implications for Ukraine, which relies on these technologies for communication on the battlefield. It is crucial to monitor further clarifications on this issue and the response from the Ukrainian side.