Ukraine Reclaims 400 km/h Satellite Speeds After Two-Week Restriction

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on October 24 that the Starshield satellite communications system has returned to its previous operational speeds.

The announcement ended a period of nearly two weeks during which satellite links dropped at speeds of approximately 161 kilometers per hour. This limitation severely restricted the ability of Ukrainian military equipment to maintain connectivity while moving at higher velocities.

Defense Minister Yevheniy Khmara told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service that monitoring systems recorded restored connectivity on equipment traveling faster than 400 kilometers per hour. He attributed the resolution to direct dialogue and the president's persistent stance on the issue. Zelenskyy described the return to full speed as essential for frontline logistics and for defending against jet-powered Shahed drones.

Starshield is a military-focused service developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX that complements the commercial Starlink network. Ukraine relies heavily on both systems for its defense infrastructure. The exact authority behind the recent speed caps remains unclear, though Serhiy Beskrestnov, a defense technology adviser to Zelenskyy, suggested a connection to recent tensions between Kyiv and Washington. The Trump administration has denied that the president or any US government official requested the changes.

Musk has stated that the government controls Starshield, with decisions on speed and usage made by the military and ultimately by President Donald Trump. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that Trump called Musk to urge him to lift the restrictions. After that conversation, communications became more reliable. When asked about the incident, Trump said, "if there is a problem, I will get it straightened out." Lawmakers from both parties in the US Congress have demanded answers regarding who authorized the changes and seek guarantees of reliable access for Ukraine.

The initial reports of limited access emerged amid concerns over other US moves that Zelenskyy and Western allies believe benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin. Over the past two weeks, Trump announced a deal encouraging Russian diesel exports and waived sanctions set to take effect under a law he signed last month. He also urged Kyiv to pause strikes on Russian oil refineries, citing high diesel prices caused by reduced Middle East energy flows during the US-Israeli war with Iran. Zelenskyy initially appeared open to a pause but declared Kyiv was done with unilateral stops after Putin ordered continued strikes on Ukraine.

Fighting continued overnight as Ukraine's air defense forces shot down 100 of 130 drones launched by Russia. Attacks on 15 locations killed at least two people. Ukraine's General Staff reported that its forces struck two industrial facilities and a military airport in Russia. One facility in Oryol, located 350 kilometers southwest of Moscow, manufactures components for cruise and ballistic missiles. The other, in Togliatti in the Samara region, produces rubber products used in solid rocket fuel.

Most of Russia-occupied Crimea lost electricity in the early hours of the day, including the cities of Simferopol, Sevastopol, Yalta, Kerch, and Feodosia. NetBlocks recorded an almost complete loss of connectivity. Russian-installed authorities stated that mobile service reached only 40 percent of the area and that public electric transport was suspended in Sevastopol. Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-appointed head of the occupation administration, blamed a disruption to main power lines outside Crimea caused by a drone attack. Ukrainian monitoring channels reported a fire at the Taman electrical substation in Russia's Krasnodar region, which supplies Crimea via the Kerch Strait.