Ukraine Says Satellite Speeds Restored After Week of Cuts

Ukraine has operated on restricted satellite connectivity for more than a week. The country's Defense Ministry said on Saturday that Starlink and Starshield speeds were back above 250 after a week of caps. The previous limits held speeds at roughly 100, which the ministry said hindered drone interception and disrupted missions.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on X that the restoration began overnight. "The most important thing today is that Starlink and Starshield operations have been restored to the speeds we had before the restrictions," he wrote. "The speeds are now where they need to be." Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara credited the outcome to "direct dialogue" by Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy thanked members of Congress, the State Department and President Trump in his post.

Starlink carries drone operations, supply runs and front-line communications for Ukraine's military. Zelenskyy said the service also helps defend against Iranian-made Shahed drones used by Russia.

Who ordered the slowdown remains disputed. Zelenskyy told NBC's Meet the Press that Ukrainian officials believe the U.S. government caused the restrictions, saying SpaceX acted on a "message from [the] American government." On Oct. 14, Elon Musk wrote on X that Starshield is owned and controlled by the U.S. government and that "any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS." The Trump administration has denied interfering with Ukraine's access to Starshield. Trump declined on Friday to say who ordered the restrictions: "I wouldn't tell you if I did know." He also defended Musk, saying "Elon will never do anything wrong. I know him very well. He's a fair person."

Russia has agreed to a trilateral meeting with Ukraine and the United States next month. The two sides also agreed to a localized ceasefire in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied city in the south. The White House said First Lady Melania Trump brokered that deal, which includes humanitarian aid and civilian evacuation amid a food crisis in the city.

Fighting continued on Saturday. Ukraine struck a chemical plant in the Russian city of Tolyatti, while a Russian drone hit a residential building in Kyiv's Obolon District and set it on fire.