Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara said satellite links now maintain stable connections above 250 mph, ending days of speed caps that disrupted front-line operations.
Ukraine’s military has regained full access to high-speed Starlink satellite connections for its drones and front-line hardware, ending more than a week of curbs, Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara said on Saturday.
Systems monitoring the network recorded stable links on equipment travelling faster than 400 kilometres per hour, or 250 mph, BBC News reported. The change restores full operational capability across the constellation of 10,000 low Earth orbit satellites after disruptions that grounded Ukrainian equipment, according to CBS News. Khmara credited direct dialogue and diplomacy by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, adding that “This result is above all important for our front, for our soldiers, for the operation of drones, for logistics and for communications.”
The announcement came after Trump said Musk restored Ukraine’s Starlink internet access, though Ukrainian officials reported on Friday that limits were still being felt across front-line units.
Impact on front-line drone flights
The service disruptions started last week when connection caps hit Starshield, the SpaceX-built satellite internet setup that serves as the backbone for Ukrainian communications and drone missions. When fast-moving drones reached speeds of 161 km/h, or 100 mph, they lost their satellite connection. Ukrainian commanders reported lost aircraft and canceled missions, especially in remote parts of the battlefield where standard communications don’t reach.
Dispute over who ordered the restrictions
Ukrainian officials had accused US President Donald Trump of telling SpaceX owner Elon Musk to place limits on the network. Trump denied making that call, while Musk claimed the US military controlled Starshield and suggested the Pentagon might be responsible for the problems. Trump later said Musk had put the service back, while CBS News reported on Tuesday that the SpaceX chief executive was behind the disruption.
The fight over satellite access emerged during a broader diplomatic row between Trump and Zelenskyy over Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. Faced with midterm elections next month, Trump waived some sanctions on Russia and agreed to a deal to import Russian diesel for the US market, a move that drew criticism from Ukraine and European allies. Trump argued that Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries drove global fuel prices higher, although price increases this year were primarily caused by the Iran war. Zelenskyy also stated that Washington threatened to halt intelligence sharing unless the strikes on refineries stopped, which Trump denied. Because Russia isn’t authorized to use Starlink, the network does not function when Ukraine launches drones deep into Russian territory to hit refineries.
Diplomatic steps and ongoing strikes
The restoration of satellite speeds comes as American diplomats push to end the war. Moscow agreed on Wednesday to take part in three-way negotiations with Washington and Kyiv next month. On Friday, Ukraine and Russia also agreed to a localized ceasefire around the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in the southern Kherson region, an arrangement brokered by first lady Melania Trump.
Fighting has continued alongside those diplomatic moves. Ukrainian drone strikes on Saturday caused power cuts in Russian-annexed Crimea, where Moscow-appointed governor Sergey Aksyonov announced emergency restrictions on electricity and water supplies. Russian-backed authorities also reported that a separate Ukrainian strike in Kharkiv killed at least three people and wounded another.
