SpaceX Restores Full Starlink Speeds for Ukrainian Military Drones

SpaceX has restored full satellite bandwidth for Ukrainian military assets, ending a week of speed caps that disrupted drone operations. Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara announced the change on Saturday, stating that monitoring systems now show stable connections for objects moving faster than 250 mph.

The restoration affects both the commercial Starlink service and Starshield, the military-grade version of the network. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that checks verified the correct speeds were back online. The recovery began overnight and was fully operational by Saturday morning, according to Zelenskyy.

Ukrainian commanders reported lost drones and interrupted missions during the period of restricted speeds. The limits placed on the satellite links caused significant operational friction for fast-moving equipment on the front line. Zelenskyy noted that the stable speeds are essential for logistics and for protecting against reactive Shahed drones launched by Russia.

The satellite outage occurred as U.S. envoys pushed for a diplomatic resolution to the war. Russia agreed on Wednesday to resume three-way negotiations with Washington and Kyiv next month. Additionally, Kyiv and Moscow agreed on Friday to a localized ceasefire around Oleshky, a town in Ukraine's southern Kherson region.

The truce around Oleshky was brokered by First Lady Melania Trump. The timing of the satellite restoration added to existing tensions between Kyiv and Washington. Relations were already strained by a reported deal between President Donald Trump and Moscow regarding Russian diesel imports, which Ukrainian officials viewed as a betrayal.

Khmara attributed the resolution to direct dialogue and Zelenskyy's diplomacy with the United States. He emphasized that the restored service is critical for the military's work with drones, logistics, and communications. Zelenskyy thanked American partners for taking the issue seriously.

Questions remain about who ordered the interruptions to the satellite system built by Elon Musk's company. Trump has stated he did not make the call and that Musk should not be blamed. Ukraine has relied on the network for years to counter Russian attacks.