Ukraine Confirms Full Satellite Speeds Return
Defense officials said drone connectivity was restored after a week of operational limits on the front line.
By Jason Kovalenko ·
Ukraine regained full access to Starlink satellite speeds for military drones on Saturday, ending a week of restrictions that disrupted front-line operations. Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara announced the recovery after monitoring systems indicated stable connections for objects moving at speeds above 250 mph.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that checks verified both Starlink and the military-grade Starshield service were running at correct speeds. He stated that the restoration began the previous night, with sufficient speeds available by morning. Zelenskyy emphasized that the return of full capability is critical for front-line logistics and for defending against reactive Shahed drones launched by Russia.
Ukrainian commanders reported lost drones and interrupted missions during the period of limited connectivity. The disruption caused alarm among military and government officials who rely on the satellite system to coordinate fast-moving equipment and counter Russian attacks.
The restoration occurred as U.S. envoys pursued a new diplomatic push to end the war. Russia agreed on Wednesday to resume three-way negotiations with Washington and Kyiv next month. Additionally, Kyiv and Moscow agreed on Friday to a localized ceasefire around Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in the Kherson region. The truce was brokered by First Lady Melania Trump.
The satellite issues added strain to relations between Kyiv and Washington. Tensions had already risen following a reported deal between President Donald Trump and Moscow regarding Russian diesel imports, a move Ukraine viewed as a betrayal. Khmara attributed the resolution of the speed limits to direct dialogue and Zelenskyy's diplomacy with Washington. He noted that the fix was essential for drone operations, logistics, and communications.
Zelenskyy thanked American officials and other partners for taking the situation seriously. Questions remain regarding who ordered the interruptions to the system built by Elon Musk's company. Trump has maintained he did not make the decision, while also stating that Musk should not be blamed for the outage.
