Ukraine confirms Starlink speeds return to 400km/h

Ukraine has confirmed that its military satellite internet speeds have returned to more than 400km/h, restoring full operational capability after several days of restricted access. Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara announced the change in a statement on Saturday, marking the end of a technical limitation that affected drone operations and logistics.

Khmara described the restoration as vital for the front lines, specifically for soldiers, drone operations, and communications. The speed threshold of 400km/h serves as a technical indicator that the network is functioning without the previous caps. During the restriction period, Ukrainian drones reportedly lost their satellite connection when traveling at speeds of 161km/h or faster.

The disruption followed accusations last week that US President Donald Trump instructed Starlink owner Elon Musk to impose the limits. While Trump denied giving a specific order, he later stated that Musk had resolved the issue. The dispute occurred against a backdrop of diplomatic friction between Washington and Kyiv, with Trump waiving some sanctions on Russia and agreeing to import Russian diesel for the US market ahead of next month's midterm elections.

Ukraine relies heavily on the 10,000 low Earth orbit satellites of the Starlink and Starshield networks to pilot drones and manage operations, particularly in remote battlefield areas. Musk has indicated that the US military controls Starshield and suggested the Pentagon may have been involved in the recent connectivity issues. Russia is not authorized to use the network, which means it fails to function when Ukrainian long-range missiles or drones strike targets deep inside Russian territory, such as oil refineries.

The conflict over satellite access coincides with ongoing ground combat. On Saturday, the Russian defence ministry reported that its air defences shot down 616 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones across several regions, including the Russian-annexed Crimea. Sergey Aksyonov, the Moscow-backed governor of Crimea, stated that electricity and water restrictions were introduced in the region due to power cuts caused by the drone strikes.

Ukrainian authorities reported that they struck a missile component manufacturer, a chemical plant, and an aircraft at a military airfield within Russia in the past 24 hours. They also recorded 88 Russian air strikes on Friday, during which Russia used 309 glide bombs and 10,270 kamikaze drones. The strikes on Russian oil infrastructure have influenced global fuel prices, although Ukrainian officials attribute the price increases primarily to the ongoing war in Iran.