Ukraine confirms satellite speeds back to 250 mph after week of caps
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the restoration of full bandwidth for military communications on Saturday, ending a period of reduced performance that hampered drone operations.
By Jason Kovalenko ·
Ukraine confirmed on Saturday that satellite internet speeds for its military have returned to normal levels. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on social media that the restoration began overnight. He reported that both the commercial Starlink network and the military-focused Starshield system now operate at pre-restriction speeds.
The Defense Ministry verified the recovery through its monitoring systems. Connectivity is currently holding stable at speeds above 250 miles per hour. For the previous week, these speeds were capped at roughly 100 miles per hour. Officials said the lower bandwidth made it difficult to intercept incoming drones and disrupted ongoing missions.
Starlink serves as a critical infrastructure piece for Ukraine's defense against Russia. The network supports drone operations, logistical movements of supplies, and communications along the front line. Zelenskyy noted that the service also aids in protecting against Iranian-made Shahed drones used by Russian forces.
Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara attributed the fix to direct dialogue led by Zelenskyy. He emphasized that the result is vital for service members and logistics. In his announcement, Zelenskyy thanked American officials, including members of Congress and the State Department, as well as President Donald Trump.
The cause of the slowdown created friction between Washington and Kyiv. Zelenskyy told NBC News that Ukrainian officials believed the U.S. government directed the restrictions. He claimed SpaceX acted on a message from the American government. Elon Musk, the SpaceX CEO, wrote on October 14 that Starshield is owned by the U.S. government. He added that speed limits are decided by the U.S. military and the president.
The Trump administration has denied interfering with Ukraine's access to the satellite systems. On Friday, Trump declined to identify who ordered the restrictions. He stated that he would not reveal the information if he knew it. Trump also defended Musk, describing him as a fair person who would not make a mistake.
The restoration occurs as U.S.-led peace efforts resume. Russia has agreed to a trilateral meeting with Ukraine and the United States next month. The two sides also reached a localized ceasefire in the southern city of Oleshky. The White House said First Lady Melania Trump brokered that deal, which includes humanitarian aid and civilian evacuation. Fighting continued elsewhere on Saturday, with Ukraine striking a chemical plant in Tolyatti and a Russian drone hitting a residential building in Kyiv.
