Ukraine Confirms Starlink Speeds Return to Pre-Dispute Levels

The Ukrainian government confirmed on Saturday that military units have regained stable access to Starlink satellite communications. The resolution ends a ten-day disruption in which data transmission speeds were artificially capped at 160 kilometers per hour. Kyiv stated that both Starlink and Starshield systems are now operating at pre-restriction levels, a threshold deemed necessary for frontline logistics and the defense against jet-powered Shahed drones.

The outage began abruptly earlier this month. During the restriction period, Ukrainian forces reported that several combat missions failed due to the reduced bandwidth. The lower speeds hindered the ability to intercept Russian attack drones and forced the cancellation of some operations targeting assets behind enemy lines. Additionally, the speed limits meant that Russia could launch ballistic missiles without receiving advance warning from US intelligence systems.

The timing of the restrictions coincided with US President Donald Trump's announcement of a deal to purchase Russian diesel. Trump initially denied that his administration ordered the cut in intelligence sharing. He told reporters, "I don't know if it was anybody, but it wasn't me, and I don't think it was Elon," referencing SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later defended the president by stating that Trump does not run SpaceX and cannot direct its operational decisions.

Musk pushed back against the administration's involvement. He wrote on X that the systems are owned and controlled by the US government. He argued that any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately the president. Vice-president JD Vance supported Musk's position on Thursday. Vance said the billionaire does not want to intervene in a conflict between two state actors without effective direction from the US government.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attributed the disruption to a coordinated effort between Washington and SpaceX. He said, "It was a message from [the] American government to limit the speed, and technically, SpaceX did it." Zelenskyy noted that Starshield terminals in European Union countries faced no similar restrictions, which applied only to Ukraine. He described the action as a planned operation that risked bringing human losses to the battlefield.

The status of the network remained unclear earlier in the week. On Thursday, Trump claimed the service was back at full speed, but a European official told the Associated Press that the system was not fully functioning. When asked on Friday if he would tell Musk to stop messing around with Ukraine's access, Trump said he had not spoken to the billionaire but might have to. He added, "If there is a problem, I'll get it straightened out."

Zelenskyy announced the final resolution in a video address on Telegram. He thanked US allies, including Trump and the State Department, for resolving the issue. The restoration began overnight, and by Saturday morning, speeds were sufficient for operational use. The return to full bandwidth allows Ukrainian forces to maintain real-time data links critical for modern air defense and strike operations.