Kyiv Blames Washington for Week of Slow Internet
Kyiv confirms full restoration of Starlink and Starshield links after a week of throttling that hindered drone defense and front-line logistics.
By Arjun Wojcik ·
Ukraine’s satellite internet connections returned to full capacity on Saturday morning, ending a week of reduced speeds that strained military operations. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the recovery on X, stating that Starlink and the Starshield system now operate at pre-restriction levels.
The Defense Ministry confirmed that monitoring systems show stable connectivity above 250 mph. For the past week, speeds were capped at approximately 100 mph, a limit officials said impeded drone interception missions and disrupted supply chains for troops on the front line.
Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara attributed the fix to direct negotiations led by Zelenskyy. He emphasized that the restored speed is critical for drone operations, logistics, and communications. Zelenskyy thanked members of the U.S. Congress, the State Department, and President Trump for their role in the resolution.
Tensions between Washington and Kyiv had centered on the cause of the slowdown. Zelenskyy told NBC’s Meet the Press that Ukrainian officials believed the U.S. government instructed SpaceX to limit access. On October 14, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk posted on X that Starshield is owned by the U.S. government and that speed limits are decided by the U.S. military and the president.
The Trump administration has denied interfering with Ukraine’s access to the network. Speaking on Friday, President Trump declined to name the authority behind the restrictions, saying he would not reveal details even if he knew them. He defended Musk, describing him as a fair person who never does anything wrong.
The technical fix arrives as diplomatic efforts accelerate. Russia agreed to a trilateral meeting with Ukraine and the United States next month. The two sides also reached a localized ceasefire in the occupied southern city of Oleshky, a deal brokered by First Lady Melania Trump that includes humanitarian aid and civilian evacuation.
Combat continued despite the digital restoration. 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.
Source: NPR
