KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian units have been recording significant disruptions to Starshield‘s operations over the territory of Ukraine for several days, after receiving briefings from Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara and Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi.
Zelenskyy said the disruptions have been recorded along the entire front line and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
He said systematic speed restrictions are being imposed on Starshield, limiting it to 161 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour). The Ukrainian military has investigated the circumstances, he said, and the restrictions are not random errors but systematic.
Interceptions falling short
For Ukraine, Zelenskyy said, the restrictions primarily mean a significant complication in intercepting Russian jet-powered drones.
He said strikes have already got through because Ukraine’s interception systems cannot reach sufficient speeds and are unable to intercept in time.
Zelenskyy said the situation is helping Russia kill more Ukrainians and carry out more accurate strikes against Ukraine.
Ukraine is trying to establish all the circumstances with the American side, he said.