Ukraine reports satellite speeds back to normal after ten-day disruption
Military officials confirm Starlink restrictions are lifted, ending a period of failed intercepts and stalled operations.
By Christopher Singh ·
Ukraine’s government announced that its military has regained a stable connection to Starlink, marking the end of a ten-day period where satellite speeds were abruptly capped. The restoration follows a sudden restriction that limited terminal operations to 160 kilometers per hour, a speed limit that officials say directly contributed to the failure of several combat missions earlier this month.
The satellite terminals, manufactured by Elon Musk’s SpaceX but managed by the US government, serve as a critical infrastructure piece for Ukrainian defense. When the speed limits were imposed, the military struggled to intercept Russian attack drones. The restrictions also forced the cancellation of some operations aimed at targets behind enemy lines. Additionally, Russia was able to launch ballistic missiles at Ukraine without receiving the usual advance warning from US intelligence channels.
The timing of the restrictions has fueled speculation about political motives. The limits coincided with Donald Trump’s announcement of a US deal to purchase Russian diesel. Initially, the US president denied that his administration was responsible for the decision to cut intelligence sharing. “I don’t know if it was anybody, but it wasn’t me, and I don’t think it was Elon,” Trump said, referencing Musk, the chief executive of SpaceX.
Tensions between the two camps became evident in the following days. Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to shift the focus toward Musk when he defended Trump last Wednesday. “The president has nothing to do with the decisions that are made by Starlink and Starshield and by Mr Musk,” Rubio stated, noting that the president does not run the company and cannot direct its actions. In response, Musk placed the responsibility on the US administration. Writing on X last week, he described the systems as “owned and controlled by the US government” and stated that any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately the president.
Vice-president JD Vance joined the debate on Thursday, backing Musk’s position. Vance suggested that the billionaire does not wish to be placed in the middle of a war between two state actors without clear direction from the US government. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blamed both parties for the disruption. “It was a message from [the] American government to limit the speed,” he said, adding that “technically, SpaceX did it.” He pointed out that Starshield terminals in EU countries faced no similar restrictions, suggesting the limits were unique to Ukraine. “In other words, this is a planned operation,” Zelenskyy warned, cautioning that the decision would likely result in human losses.
The situation began to clarify on Saturday when Zelenskyy addressed the nation via a video on Telegram. He announced the restoration of the system and thanked US allies, including Trump and the State Department, for resolving the issue. Zelenskyy confirmed that Starlink and Starshield had returned to their pre-restriction speeds. He noted that the restoration began overnight and that by morning, speeds were sufficient for operational use, a development he described as vital for frontline logistics and for defending against jet-powered Shaheds.
The timeline, however, had been murky in the days prior to the official announcement. On Thursday, Trump claimed the service was back at full speed. However, a European official speaking to the Associated Press at the time denied that the system was fully functioning. When asked on Friday whether he would instruct Musk to stop “messing around” with Ukraine’s access, Trump said he had not spoken to him but might have to. “If there is a problem, I’ll get it straightened out,” the president said, before characterizing Musk as “very brilliant” and “very good.”
With the connection now reported as stable, attention turns to the broader implications of the incident. The episode highlights the complex interplay between private technology firms and government oversight in modern warfare. For Ukraine, the return of full speed is a tactical victory, but the question of who holds final authority over these critical systems remains a subject of intense scrutiny. The next few days will likely see further diplomatic exchanges as both sides seek to clarify the protocols for future satellite access.
