Satellite Communications: Ukraine Confirms Full-Speed Starlink Access Returns

The Ukrainian government announced on Saturday that its military has regained a stable connection to the Starlink satellite system. This development marks the end of a ten-day period during which the network’s speeds were artificially capped. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed in a Telegram video address that both Starlink and Starshield terminals are now operating at their pre-restriction rates.

The recent speed limits restricted terminal operations to 160 kilometers per hour, or 99 miles per hour. Ukrainian officials stated that this cap caused several combat missions to fail earlier in the month. The reduced bandwidth hampered the military’s ability to intercept Russian attack drones and forced the cancellation of some operations targeting locations behind enemy lines. Additionally, the restrictions allowed Russian forces to fire ballistic missiles at Ukraine without receiving advance warning from US intelligence partners.

The timing of the restrictions 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 with Ukraine. He stated, "I don't know if it was anybody, but it wasn't me, and I don't think it was Elon," referring to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Secretary of State Marco Rubio supported this view last Wednesday, asserting that the president does not run SpaceX and cannot direct its operations.

Musk placed the responsibility on the US administration. Writing on X last week, he noted that the systems are owned and controlled by the US government. He added that any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and, ultimately, the president. Vice-President JD Vance backed Musk on Thursday, stating that the billionaire does not want to mediate a war between two state actors without effective US government direction.

Zelenskyy attributed the issue to a coordinated effort by both parties. He said, "It was a message from [the] American government to limit the speed, and technically, SpaceX did it." The Ukrainian president pointed out that Starshield terminals in European Union countries faced no similar restrictions. He described the move as a planned operation and warned that the decision would result in human losses.

The status of the service was unclear for several days prior to the announcement. On Thursday, Trump claimed the service was back at full speed, but a European official told the Associated Press that it was not fully functioning. On Friday, Trump said he had not spoken to Musk but might have to. He added, "If there is a problem, I'll get it straightened out," while describing Musk as very brilliant and very good.

Zelenskyy thanked US allies, including Trump and the State Department, for resolving the issue on Saturday. He explained that the restoration began overnight. By morning, speeds were sufficient for operational use, which is essential for frontline logistics and for defending against jet-powered Shahed drones.