In brief
Ukraine has restored a stable link to its satellite internet service Starlink after an abrupt slowdown linked to U.S. political pressures. Defending Minister Yevhenii Khmara said drones and logistics can now operate at speeds exceeding 400 km/h. The pause followed President Trump’s accusations that Elon Musk limited service to Ukraine amid disputes over Russian oil strikes. A broader East‑European war context highlights Starlink’s role in battlefield communications and the ongoing fight against Russian forces.
Ukraine now has a "stable connection" to Starlink, its defence minister has said, after its military suffered days of restricted connectivity on the satellite network.
The Ukrainian defence ministry announced that the Starlink network and its military‑grade sister Starshield are back to full operational capacity, crucial for steering drones and conducting ground operations across the country.
Last week Ukraine accused U.S. President Donald Trump of instructing SpaceX founder Elon Musk to throttle the service. The restriction cut the speed of drones moving at 161 km/h (100 mph) or more, causing sudden loss of signal. Trump denied the claim, but Musk later admitted that thresholds had been lowered, and the limits were reversed.
Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara said that speeds higher than 400 km/h are now possible, signalling full capability has been restored. "This result is above all important for our front, for our soldiers, for the operation of drones, for logistics and for communications," he stated in a statement on Saturday.
Ukraine’s army has relied heavily on the network of 10,000 low‑Earth‑orbit satellites for battlefield operations, especially in remote front‑line areas. Ukraine also uses Starshield—controlled by the U.S. military for secure links—under Musk’s claim that the Pentagon may have been involved in the temporary restriction.
Russia is barred from using Starlink; consequently when Ukraine launches long‑range missiles or drones far into Russian territory to target oil refineries, the satellite link is disabled. The episode came amid a diplomatic spat between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over these strikes.
The U.S. has temporarily lifted some sanctions on Russia ahead of next month’s midterm elections, and agreed to import Russian diesel for the U.S. market—a move criticised by Ukraine and its European partners. Trump argued that Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure have driven global fuel prices higher, though analysts attribute most increases to the Iran conflict.
Zelensky has accused the United States of threatening to withdraw intelligence sharing if the strikes ceased, a claim Trump denied. Fighting continues on the ground; Russian‑occupied Crimea experienced power cuts after a Ukrainian drone strike, and Russian‑backed officials reported casualties in Kharkiv from a separate Ukrainian attack.
