Ukraine Restores Full Starlink Speeds After Ten-Day Dispute

Ukraine's government confirmed Saturday that its military regained a stable connection to Starlink, ending a ten-day period of restricted speeds that disrupted frontline operations. The satellite terminals, manufactured by SpaceX and managed by the US government, are essential for Ukrainian command and control. The sudden cap on terminal speeds limited operations to 160km/h, a constraint that forced the cancellation of several combat missions earlier this month.

The speed restrictions directly impacted Ukraine's ability to defend against Russian air attacks. Military officials reported that the limits hampered the interception of Russian attack drones and prevented operations targeting assets behind enemy lines. Additionally, the disruption in data flow meant Russia could launch ballistic missiles without advance warning from US intelligence channels. The timing of the restrictions coincided with President Donald Trump's announcement of a US deal to purchase Russian diesel, adding a layer of diplomatic friction to the technical issue.

Blame for the outage shifted between Washington and the private sector throughout the week. President Trump initially denied his administration ordered the cut, stating, "I don't know if it was anybody, but it wasn't me, and I don't think it was Elon." Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced this distance, saying the president does not run SpaceX or direct its operations. In contrast, Elon Musk wrote on X that the systems are owned and controlled by the US government, implying that the military and the president decide on speed limits. Vice President JD Vance supported Musk's position, noting that the billionaire did not want to intervene in a war between state actors without clear government direction.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attributed the issue to a joint decision. He stated that the American government sent the message to limit speed, and SpaceX executed the technical change. Zelenskyy pointed out that Starshield terminals in EU countries faced no similar restrictions, describing the move as a planned operation that risked human losses. He announced the restoration in a video address on Telegram, thanking US allies for resolving the problem. The system began operating at pre-restriction speeds overnight, with full operational capability confirmed by Saturday morning.

The timeline of the restoration was marked by conflicting reports. 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. On Friday, Trump acknowledged potential ongoing issues, saying he had not spoken to Musk but might have to. He described Musk as very brilliant and very good, adding that if a problem existed, he would get it straightened out. By Saturday, the technical dispute had been resolved, and speeds were sufficient for frontline logistics and defense against jet-powered Shahed drones.