Ukraine Reclaims 250 mph Satellite Speeds After Week of Caps
Defense officials confirm full restoration of Starlink and Starshield capabilities, ending a disruption that slowed drone defense and frontline logistics.
By Alina Campbell ·
Ukraine confirmed on Saturday that satellite internet speeds have returned to pre-restriction levels after more than a week of caps. The recovery began overnight, restoring the Starlink network and the military Starshield system to full operational capacity.
The Defense Ministry verified that connectivity now holds stable above 250 mph. For the past week, speeds were limited to roughly 100 mph. Officials stated this reduction hindered drone interception efforts and disrupted critical missions along the front line.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the change on social media. He stated that Starlink and Starshield operations have been restored to previous speeds. Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara attributed the fix to direct dialogue by the president. Khmara noted the restoration is vital for service members, drone operations, logistics, and communications.
The slowdown created friction between Washington and Kyiv. Zelenskyy told NBC that Ukrainian officials believed the U.S. government ordered the restrictions. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk posted on October 14 that Starshield is owned by the U.S. government. He said speed limits are decided by the U.S. military and the president.
The Trump administration denied interfering with access to the system. President Trump spoke to reporters on Friday and declined to name who issued the order. He described Elon Musk as a fair person. Zelenskyy thanked American officials, including members of Congress and the State Department, for their role in the resolution.
The restoration occurs as the U.S. pushes for peace talks. Russia agreed to a trilateral meeting with Ukraine and the United States next month. The sides also reached a localized ceasefire in the occupied city of Oleshky. The White House said First Lady Melania Trump brokered that deal to allow humanitarian aid and civilian evacuation.
Combat operations continue despite the diplomatic moves. On Saturday, Ukrainian forces attacked a chemical plant in the Russian city of Tolyatti. A Russian drone struck a residential building in Kyiv's Obolon District, starting a fire.
