Starlink and Starshield speeds in Ukraine returned to normal by Saturday, improving frontline logistics and communications. The previous week’s speed cap had disrupted military operations. Musk said it was imposed after Ukraine used Starlink for offensive drone strikes.
Ukraine said on Saturday (local time) that the Starlink satellite system and its military version Starshield are back to full functionality over the country, a week after speed throttling left the coutry’s defnces vulnurable to Russian attacks. "The speeds are now where they need to be," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X, adding that restoration began overnight and were sufficient by Saturday morning, improving front-line logistics and defence against Russian jet-powered Shahed drones.
"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.
According to Zelenskyy, the speeds started returning to normal overnight. Ukraine's defence ministry said on Saturday the connection remained stable at over 400 kph.
How Starlink restrictions affected Ukraine
Starshield is the military version of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service and is controlled by the US government. Ukraine had been using Starshield for its drones used for intercepting incoming Russian strikes and to carry out attacks inside Russian territory, targeting infrastructure like oil refineries and data centers.
Last week, without any explanation, Starlink and Starshield satellite speeds in Ukraine were capped at 160 km/h, which led to the disruption of Ukrainian medium-range attack drones and frontline operations. The move, which neither the Pentagon nor SpaceX acknowledged as initiated by them, coincided with US President Donald Trump announcing a partial waiver on Russian oil sanctions and an "energy ceasefire" between the two warring sides, claiming that Russia and Ukraine agreed to stop attacking each other's power and energy infrastructure. This had led to speculation that the Pentagon was behind the restrictions that disrupted Ukraine’s frontline operations ahead of the crucial winter.
Ukraine violated Starlink's terms: Musk
But on Saturday, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk accused the Ukrainian military of violating the company's terms. Neither Musk nor the US government, which operates Starshield using Starlink technology, had taken responsibility for imposing the curbs.
"Ukraine military violated Starlink terms of service and used it for offensive drone strikes to kill people. That loophole was closed last week," Musk said on X.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov said on the Telegram app that the country is "physically unable" to use Starlink for long- and medium-range attack drone operations.
Ukraine does not rely on Starlink for long-range drone operations on Russian territory, including attacks on refineries. It operates at speeds no higher than 70-90 kph.
But it remains vital for frontline communications, and the deployment of fast Starshield-enabled medium-range attack drones has helped Ukraine gain the upper hand in several areas of the battlefield this year.
About the Author
Bobins Vayalil Abraham
Bobins loves telling the human side of all stories, from the intersection of geopolitics, international relations, and conflicts around the world. In his nearly one-and-a-half-decade career as a journalist, Bobins has covered South Asia, the Middle East, and North America, from elections to mass protests and conflicts. <br> Bobins has also done extensive reporting on environmental issues, climate change, and sustainability, focusing on solutions and people working to make the planet a better place to live. <br> In 2018, Bobins was awarded by Times Internet for the impact of his story on Delhi tree cuttings. Bobins also loves telling the stories of Indian startups and the journey of their founders. <br> Total Years of Experience: 14 <br> Years of experience at LM: Bobins has been a part of Live Mint since February 2026 <br> Interests: When he is not tracking conflicts, Bobins loves to cook, travel across India, click photos, and watch documentaries on history. Past Experience: Before joining Live Mint, Bobins worked with The Indian Express, where he led the Global Breaking News coverage, Indiatimes, where he led the news team, covering everything trending, ANI, where the focus of his coverage was South Asia, and NBS News. <br> Current Role: Bobins is currently working as an Assistant Editor at Live Mint.