Why is Starlink internet so crucial on the battlefield in Ukraine?

It is the "backbone of military communications in Ukraine," providing vital high-speed internet to forces across the country.

Starlink satellites, operated by Elon Musk's SpaceX, provide high-speed internet — something modern warfare relies heavily on.

Kiev has adopted it as a vital communication tool on the battlefield and is also using it in drone warfare.

Using Starlink, Ukrainian drones can establish stronger communications with operators over longer distances than conventional radio networks and are less vulnerable to interference.

But according to a senior Ukrainian official, the sudden speed limit for Starlink-connected drones means some battlefield "missions" have been disrupted.

Serhiy Beskrestnov also said authorities were not informed of the 100 mph (160 km/h) speed limits set by Elon Musk's SpaceX on Tuesday.

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), networked drones at this relatively low speed would render Ukrainian attempts to intercept Russian jet-powered drones useless.

Starlink is "the backbone of military communications in Ukraine" and is used by Kiev's naval, land and air forces, says the institute's George Barros.

Barros, who is ISW's director of innovation and open source business, told the BBC that these limitations could have significant implications, as the technology allows drones, artillery and command posts to act as a real-time network that minimizes the time between sensor and shooter.

Starlink does not operate inside Russia, but Ukrainian drones can use satellites to communicate with their operators during attacks. There is no ready-made substitute for networking.

Starlink-equipped interceptors are also one of Ukraine's most effective solutions against Russian jet-powered witness drones, he said.

The witnesses fly at speeds in excess of 198 miles per hour, meaning SpaceX's restrictions would make Ukrainian efforts to track them down impossible.

Electronic warfare expert and RUSI fellow Tom Whittington told BBC Radio 4's PM program that the satellite system would allow Ukraine to move large amounts of data - such as video, text and voice calls - in a similar way to smartphones, but without the infrastructure required by phones.

According to Whittington, speed limits effectively prevent anything connected to the network from reaching more than 100 miles per hour, making it difficult for drones to navigate inside Ukraine and Russian-occupied territories inside Ukraine.

Serhiy Beskrestnov - Zelensky's adviser - says he believes these restrictions are not accidental and are related to the latest tensions between Kiev and Washington.

President Trump has criticized Ukraine's long-range attacks on Russian oil refineries and called for a new leader — criticisms echoed by Elon Musk.

Ukraine's complaints about the restrictions have drawn attention to Starlink and Starshield — a military version of the network developed by SpaceX for the Pentagon.

Musk says the two systems are separate, but in many cases they use similar satellite technology.

And Musk suggested in a post on X, Foreigner that the US government may be responsible for slowing down Ukraine's use of the technology.

"Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government," he wrote. "Any limitations on speed or use are decided by the US military and ultimately the POTUS.

Starlink is a commercial service owned and controlled by SpaceX. "The use of Starlink is limited to civilian or defensive activities and cannot be used for offensive military operations, as it would be inappropriate for a commercial enterprise to do so."

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20 percent of Ukraine's territory.

SpaceX satellite communications have been vital to both militaries during the four-year war, including Russia's attack on a moving passenger train, but earlier this year Musk cut Starlink terminals to Russian forces in a move that slowed Moscow's advance in Ukraine and confused Russian commanders.