The key facts

  • Starlink and Starshield are fully functional and speeds have returned to pre-restriction levels, Zelensky said.
  • Previously, speeds were limited to 160 km/h, which hampered the interception of Russian drones.
  • Who was responsible for the slowdown is unclear: the WSJ wrote of Musk’s unilateral decision, while Musk himself pointed to the military and the US president.

Speeds restored

The Starlink satellite system and its military version Starshield were fully functional on Saturday, October 24, the Ukrainian government reported. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram that speeds began returning to normal overnight: “The main thing for today — Starlink and Starshield have resumed operation at the speeds in place before the restrictions. The speeds are now at the level we need.” Ukraine’s Defense Ministry confirmed that the connection remains stable at speeds above 400 km/h. According to Zelensky, this is critical for frontline logistics and defense against jet-powered “Shaheds.”

A week of restrictions and their consequences

The announcement came after more than a week of restrictions on Starlink and Starshield operations, which disrupted Ukraine’s military operations and caused friction with the United States. Ukrainian officials reported that the limited speed of 160 km/h made it difficult to intercept Russian attack drones and forced the cancellation of some operations.

Who is responsible remains an open question

Starlink is operated by SpaceX, the company of billionaire Elon Musk, an ally of US President Donald Trump. The Wall Street Journal reported this week, citing American officials, that they believed Musk had unilaterally restricted the speeds at which Ukrainian equipment could stay connected to the satellite network. According to the WSJ, officials made clear that Trump had not issued any specific order for measures against Kyiv. In response, Musk said that “any restrictions on speed or use” of Starshield “are determined by the American military and ultimately by the president». Both Trump and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth deniedthat the Defense Department had directed any changes. Who exactly was responsible for last week’s slowdown remains unclear.

Context of tension between Kyiv and Washington

Kyiv began doubting Washington’s support in terms of intelligence sharing amid suggestions that the White House may have ordered the Starshield restrictions. The Starlink slowdown came against the backdrop of deteriorating US–Ukraine relations following, as reported, Trump’s agreement with Moscow on importing Russian diesel, which Ukraine saw as a betrayal.

Why this matters

Starlink and Starshield are key communications infrastructure for the Ukrainian army, and the restoration of speeds directly affects frontline logistics and drone interception, as Zelensky emphasized. For the Ukrainian military, this means a return to the previous pace of operations that was disrupted by a week of restrictions. At the same time, uncertainty remains: the conflicting statements by the WSJ, Musk, and American officials about who imposed the restrictions leave open the question of the reliability of Kyiv’s future access to the system.