Ukraine says Starlink at normal speed after delays impede military
Ukrainian officials confirm high-speed connectivity has returned following service restrictions that impacted military operations.
Quick Look
Ukraine's Ministry of Defence reports that Starlink and Starshield satellite services have returned to high-speed operation after restrictions hindered military communications and drone interception capabilities.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Starlink and Starshield are satellite systems used by Ukraine for frontline communications and military operations. Restrictions coincided with US diplomatic pressure regarding Russian oil refinery strikes.
Ukraine says the Starlink satellite system is back to operating at high speeds after restrictions disrupted Ukraine's military operations and intensified tensions with the US.
Problems with Elon Musk's SpaceX-owned Starlink and its military version, Starshield, came after US President Donald Trump announced a deal to buy Russian diesel, while pressing Kyiv to stop striking Russian oil refineries.
Ukrainian officials said the restrictions hampered the military's ability to intercept Russian attack drones and forced the cancellation of some operations.
"Ukraine's Ministry of Defence monitoring systems are officially recording the restoration of Starlink/Starshield operating speeds," the ministry said in a post to Telegram.
"Connectivity remains stable at speeds exceeding 400km per hour," it added.
The Ukrainian military does not disclose the systems' maximum operating speeds, and the defence ministry did not say whether service had been fully restored.
When limitations were in place, Ukraine experienced problems trying to operate at speeds over 160kph.
Ukraine does not rely on the systems for long-range drone operations on Russian territory, but Starlink is vital for frontline communications and Starshield is used for military operations in occupied territories.
The restrictions sparked outrage in Ukraine, particularly as they coincided with disruptions to allied warnings about incoming Russian missile attacks.
Kyiv later said it continued to receive US intelligence.
Neither Elon Musk or the US government has acknowledged responsibility for restricting Starlink or Starshield in Ukraine.
Both said publicly that any such decision could only have been taken by the other.
It was reported by Reuters that the order to throttle Starshield came from inside the White House.
Previously, US administrations had several times asked SpaceX to turn Starlink on or off in various countries, sources said.
Trump said on Friday that if problems persisted, he would "get it straightened out".
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Donald Trump to intervene if service problems persist.
Possible · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Who was responsible for the initial service throttling?
- Will further restrictions be imposed in the future?