Ukraine says military Starlink service restored after 10-day disruption

Investing.com -- Ukraine’s military satellite internet service has returned to normal operations following a 10-day disruption that hampered its drone capabilities, Ukrainian Defence Minister Evgeniy Khmara said Saturday.

Khmara said tests conducted Saturday morning showed stable connectivity through Starshield, the military-grade version of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite communications network, at speeds exceeding 400 kilometres per hour.

Ukrainian officials said further testing was underway at higher speeds, although Kyiv had yet to receive an explanation from Washington for the restrictions.

Since October 14, SpaceX had imposed speed limitations that caused Ukrainian drones to lose connectivity at approximately 160 kilometres per hour, sometimes at even lower speeds.

The restrictions forced Ukrainian operators to reduce drone speeds, increasing their vulnerability to Russian air defences and limiting their effectiveness during combat operations.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the disruption particularly affected Ukrainian interceptor drones attempting to counter Russia’s long-range Geran drones, which have been targeting Kyiv and other cities.

The restrictions also complicated Ukraine’s medium-range drone operations against Russian military positions and logistics networks behind the front lines.

The restoration followed a Wednesday telephone conversation in which U.S. President Donald Trump asked SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk to reinstate the service, according to U.S. officials cited by the newspaper.

The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Musk personally authorised the speed restrictions introduced earlier this month.

SpaceX did not immediately respond to the newspaper’s request for comment, while Musk has not publicly explained the decision.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had repeatedly sought clarification from U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as the disruption affected military operations.

The restrictions also prompted criticism from American lawmakers, including Republicans, amid questions about the reliability of satellite communications supporting Ukraine’s defence.

Ukraine’s Starshield access operates under contracts between SpaceX and the Pentagon, making the service a significant component of U.S. military assistance to Kyiv.