Zelenskyy: Starshield Satellite Speeds Return to 400 km/h
Ukraine’s president confirmed the restoration of high-speed military communications after a two-week restriction that hindered drone defense and logistics.
By Tyler Khalil ·
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on October 24 that the Starshield satellite communications network has returned to its previous operational speed. He described the change as vital for maintaining logistics along the front line and for countering jet-powered Shahed drones. The announcement ended a period of restrictions that had limited Ukrainian military capabilities for nearly two weeks.
Starshield, a military service developed by SpaceX, operates alongside the company’s commercial Starlink network. Ukraine relies heavily on both systems for its defense infrastructure. Defense Minister Yevheniy Khmara stated that Kyiv’s monitoring equipment recorded restored connectivity for units moving at speeds exceeding 400 kilometers per hour, or 250 miles per hour. Previously, satellite links dropped at approximately 161 kilometers per hour, which severely restricted the effectiveness of drone interceptors and other fast-moving equipment.
Khmara attributed the resolution to direct dialogue and the persistence of the Ukrainian leadership. The specific origin of the speed limits remains unconfirmed. Serhiy Beskrestnov, a defense technology adviser to Zelenskyy, suggested a connection to recent tensions between Kyiv and Washington. However, the Trump administration has denied that the president or any US government official requested the changes. Elon Musk has stated that the US government controls Starshield, with the military and President Donald Trump making final decisions on speed and usage.
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that President Trump spoke with Musk and urged him to lift the restrictions. Following that call, communications reliability improved. When asked about the incident, Trump said, "if there is a problem, I will get it straightened out." Members of Congress from both parties have demanded clarification on who authorized the changes and are seeking guarantees of reliable access for Ukraine.
The restrictions emerged alongside other US policy moves that Ukrainian and Western leaders believe benefit Russia. Over the past two weeks, the Trump administration announced a deal encouraging Russian diesel exports and waived sanctions scheduled to take effect under a law signed last month. The administration also urged Kyiv to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries, citing high diesel prices. Zelenskyy initially considered a pause in strikes but reversed course after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered continued strikes on Ukraine. Zelenskyy declared that Kyiv was finished with unilateral pauses.
Military operations continued overnight on October 24. Ukrainian air defense forces reported downing 100 of 130 Russian drones. Attacks on 15 locations killed at least two people. Ukrainian forces struck two industrial facilities and a military airport within Russia. The target in Oryol, located 350 kilometers southwest of Moscow, produces components for cruise and ballistic missiles. The facility in Togliatti, in the Samara region, manufactures rubber products used in solid rocket fuel.
Most of the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula lost power in the early hours of October 24. The outage affected Simferopol, Sevastopol, Yalta, Kerch, and Feodosia. NetBlocks recorded a near-total loss of internet connectivity. Russian-installed authorities reported that mobile service covered only 40 percent of the area and that public electric transport was suspended in Sevastopol. Sergei Aksyonov, the head of the occupation administration, blamed the outage on a drone attack on main power lines outside Crimea. Ukrainian monitoring channels reported a fire at the Taman electrical substation in Russia’s Krasnodar region, which supplies Crimea through the Kerch Strait. The cause has not been independently confirmed.
