The key facts

  • Zelensky said on October 23 that Starlink speeds have not been restored, contrary to Trump’s October 22 claim
  • The restrictions have been observed since October 14 and affected communications on moving devices
  • Zelensky also reported delays in the delivery of interceptor missiles

Disagreements over the state of Starlink

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said on October 23 during a video address to the American think tank Hudson Institute that Starlink speeds have not been restored: “The speed has not been restored,” he said. This contradicts the statement by Donald Trump, who told journalists on October 22 that SpaceX had fully restored Starlink operations in Ukraine. Asked who had given the order to lift the restrictions, Trump gave no direct answer. Earlier, both Trump and SpaceX founder Elon Musk denied having issued any order to restrict Starlink operations in Ukraine.

Details of the restrictions and their impact on the front line

According to the Ukrainian side, the restrictions have been observed since October 14. They affected, in particular, communications on devices moving at high speed. Zelensky’s adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov noted that in some cases the figures are slightly above the set limit — this does not necessarily mean the restrictions have been lifted; in his view, such situations may be related to SpaceX algorithms or special conditions of use of the system. Ukrainian troops use Starshield for communications and drone control. Zelensky previously said that the disruptions slow down logistics at the front and limit drone capabilities.

Statement on interceptor missiles

In his address at the Hudson Institute, Zelensky also spoke about delays in the delivery of interceptor missiles needed for protection against Russian ballistic missiles. “We are waiting for the interceptors. But they still have not arrived. This is a real problem, because the Russians attack us almost every day,” he said. At the same time, he stressed that the Ukrainian army is holding its defense and expressed pride in the resilience of the country’s population.

Context and significance

The discrepancy between Trump’s and Zelensky’s statements about the state of Starlink remains unresolved: according to available reports, the cause of the restrictions and who might have ordered them have not been established — both sides previously denied issuing such orders. This matters for Ukraine because, according to Zelensky, front-line logistics and drone control depend on Starlink’s operation, while a shortage of interceptors persists amid near-daily Russian strikes. For Ukrainian troops in practical terms, this means continued uncertainty in access to communications that are critical for drone control.