Ukraine Confirms Starlink Speeds Return to Normal After Ten-Day Halt
The ten-day speed cap, which limited terminals to 160 kilometers per hour, was lifted on Saturday after a dispute involving the White House and SpaceX.
By Tyler Khalil ·
For ten days, Ukrainian military units operated under a strict speed cap of 160 kilometers per hour on Starlink satellite terminals. On Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in a Telegram video address that the system had returned to stable, pre-restriction speeds.
The disruption began abruptly earlier this month when US government managers of the SpaceX network imposed limits on Ukrainian access. These restrictions forced the cancellation of some operations aimed at targets behind enemy lines. They also hampered the ability to intercept Russian attack drones. During the halt, Russia fired ballistic missiles at Ukraine without receiving advance intelligence warnings from the US.
The timing of the speed limits coincided with US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a deal to purchase Russian diesel. Trump initially denied that his administration was responsible for cutting intelligence sharing. "I don't know if it was anybody, but it wasn't me, and I don't think it was Elon," Trump said, referring to SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended Trump last Wednesday, stating the president does not run the company. "The president has nothing to do with the decisions that are made by Starlink and Starshield and by Mr Musk," Rubio said. Musk pushed back, writing on X that the systems are owned and controlled by the US government. He argued that the US military and the president decide on any limits to speed or usage. Vice-president JD Vance supported Musk on Thursday, noting the billionaire did not want to meddle in a war without government direction.
Zelenskyy criticized both parties for the lapse. He described the limits as a planned operation directed by the American government and executed technically by SpaceX. He noted that Starshield terminals in European Union countries faced no similar restrictions. "In other words, this is a planned operation," he said, warning of the human losses resulting from the decision.
Before the official confirmation, the status of the network was unclear. Trump claimed on Thursday that service was back to full speed, but a European official told the Associated Press the system was not fully functioning. On Friday, Trump said he had not yet spoken to Musk about the issue. "If there is a problem, I'll get it straightened out," he said.
Zelenskyy confirmed on Saturday that Starlink and Starshield resumed operating at levels sufficient for frontline logistics and defense against jet-powered Shahed drones. The restoration began overnight and was complete by morning.
