Lauge Risom Koch 
Germany demands the immediate removal of satellite communication restrictions in Ukraine, noting that Berlin finances the critical military equipment.
Germany officially demanded that restrictions on satellite communications in Ukraine be lifted immediately. According to the Kyiv Post, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul argued that equipment financed by Berlin must remain operational. He noted that the German government still lacks a complete picture regarding the exact cause of these sudden service disruptions.
The diplomatic pressure follows severe disruptions to a critical network that Ukrainian forces use for frontline logistics and drone operations. Wadephul emphasized that Ukraine must continue receiving full support during its ongoing defense efforts. Clarifying his government’s firm position, the foreign minister stated, “And so, of course, we insist that it works if we are paying for it.”
Defense ministry sources in Ukraine confirmed that connectivity while in motion was recently restored. Military units reported that the system remained operational on Thursday morning following the previous widespread outages. However, these sources did not specify the current operating speeds or confirm whether any underlying restrictions remained active.
Speed limits hinder drone missions and air defenses
Defense ministry sources revealed that the provider introduced overnight speed restrictions without providing any advance warning to military forces. They described a strict operational limit of roughly 160 kilometers per hour. Several frontline units reported losing critical connectivity at speeds ranging from 72 to 161 kilometers per hour.
These sudden operational limits severely hampered crucial drone missions and reduced capabilities for tactical reconnaissance. The restrictions impaired Ukrainian strikes against Russian military logistics facilities located up to 250 kilometers behind enemy lines. Ukraine is currently seeking to raise the operating speed limit to 450 kilometers per hour to pursue faster aerial threats.
Military advisors warned that these technical restrictions could ultimately have deadly consequences for innocent civilians. Fast interceptor drones are necessary to protect residential buildings and hospitals from incoming jet-powered threats. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly condemned the technical disruptions by noting that people are dying because of this decision.
United States government controls military satellite network
The recent controversy clarified exactly who ultimately controls the specific military satellite system operating over the battlefield. The network in question is a government-focused version developed specifically for national security operations. Unlike the commercial version of the service, these specific communications assets operate entirely under government control.
Technology executive Elon Musk confirmed that the recent restrictions on the system were a government decision rather than a corporate one. He clarified that the military systems are exclusively owned and controlled by the United States government. He noted that any limits on speed or usage are ultimately decided by the military and the president.
Click to display external content from twitter,
– You can always enable and disable third-party content.
You agree to display external third-party content. Personal data may be sent to the provider of the content and other third-party services.
While the Ukrainian leader expressed deep frustration over the deadly consequences, he stopped short of identifying who ordered the restrictions. Zelensky noted that his professional military operators quickly understand what is happening when they suddenly lose signal speed. German officials announced they will continue seeking direct answers from their American counterparts to clarify the ongoing situation.
