Ukraine: Starlink satellite speeds restored to normal

The announcement comes after Starlink and Starshield restrictions had disrupted military operations in Ukraine and sparked tensions with the US.

The Starlink satellite system and its military version Starshield were fully functional on Saturday, the Ukrainian government said.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said speeds for Starlink and Starshield started returning to normal overnight. 

Ukraine's ‌defense ministry confirmed on Saturday that the connection remained stable at over 400 kilometers per hour (kph).

"The main thing for today is ‌that Starlink and Starshield have resumed operations at their pre-restriction speeds. The speeds are now at the level we need," Zelenskyy said on Telegram.

"This is crucial. This really matters: for our frontline logistics, for defending Ukraine against jet-powered 'Shaheds,'" he added.

The announcement comes after over a week of Starlink and Starshield restrictions that disrupted military operations in Ukraine and sparked tensions with the US.

Ukrainian officials said that the capped speeds of 160 kph had hampered the military's ability to intercept Russian attack drones and forced the cancellation of some operations.

What caused Starlink's restrictions?

Starlink is operated by rocket company SpaceX, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, who is a close ally of US President Donald Trump.

US newspaper The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported earlier this week that US officials believed Musk acted unilaterally in capping the speeds at which Ukrainian hardware could stay connected to the satellite-based network.

According to the WSJ report, officials signaled that Trump did not specifically order retribution against Kyiv.

But in response to the report, Musk said that "any limits to speed or usage" of Starshied were "decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS."

Both Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have denied that the Pentagon had directed any changes.

It remains unclear who is responsible for last week's Starlink slowdown. 

Kyiv has come to question Washington's support over intelligence sharing, amid speculation that the White House may have ordered the restrictions on Starshield.

The Starlink slowdown came as the relationship between the US and Ukraine has become strained after President Donald Trump's reported deal with Moscow on Russian diesel imports, which Ukraine viewed as a betrayal.

Edited by: Roshni Majumdar

If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google by clicking here and hitting the "star" or "preferred" button, so you'll always see our verified news first.