Satellite War: Ukraine confirms full Starlink speeds restored

Ukrainian military units regained full-speed access to Starlink satellite terminals on Saturday, ending a ten-day operational freeze that disrupted combat missions and intelligence sharing. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the restoration in a video address on Telegram, stating that the system is now stable and operating at the levels required for frontline logistics and defense against jet-powered Shahed drones.

The restriction capped data speeds at 160 kilometers per hour, a limit that forced the cancellation of several operations targeting assets behind enemy lines. Ukrainian forces reported that the speed limits hampered their ability to intercept Russian attack drones. Additionally, Russia launched ballistic missiles at Ukraine without receiving advance warning from the United States during the period of reduced connectivity.

Starlink terminals are manufactured by Elon Musk's SpaceX but managed by the US government. They serve as a critical component of Ukrainian military operations. The sudden imposition of the speed limits coincided with Donald Trump's announcement of a US deal to purchase Russian diesel. Trump initially denied that his administration was responsible for the decision to cut intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

“I don't know if it was anybody, but it wasn't me, and I don't think it was Elon,” Trump said, referring to Musk, the chief executive of SpaceX. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended Trump by stating that the president does not run the company and cannot direct its decisions. Rubio noted that the president has no hand in the choices made by Starlink and Starshield.

Musk placed the responsibility on the US administration. Writing on X, he said the systems are owned and controlled by the US government, with speed limits determined by the US military and the president. Vice-president JD Vance supported Musk, noting that the billionaire does not wish to intervene in a war between state actors without effective direction from the US government.

Zelenskyy attributed the issue to a coordinated effort between the American government and SpaceX. “It was a message from [the] American government to limit the speed,” he said, “and technically, SpaceX did it.” He pointed out that Starshield terminals in EU countries faced no similar restrictions, calling the decision a planned operation that would bring human losses.

The restoration began overnight on Saturday. By morning, Zelenskyy said speeds were sufficient for operational use. He thanked US allies, including Trump and the State Department, for resolving the problem. Earlier in the week, Trump had claimed the service was back at full speed, though a European official told the Associated Press that the system was not fully functioning. Trump said he might have to tell Musk to stop messing around with Ukraine's access if problems persisted.