Ukraine and the U.S. are at odds over Starshield. Here's what to know

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the U.S. is behind disruptions to Starshield, a satellite communications service used by Ukraine’s military, arguing SpaceX imposed limits after receiving a “message from [the] American government.” Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press and posting on X, Zelenskyy claims Starshield has not been fully restored and that restricted access has hindered Ukraine’s ability to intercept Russian-launched weapons, calling the effects “very painful and unpleasant.” The dispute follows days of back-and-forth with the U.S. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said on X that the U.S. government decides speed or usage limits, while a bipartisan group of senators has asked the Pentagon’s inspector general to investigate. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied U.S. interference.