Ukraine’s Starlink access restored after disruption, UK defence secretary says
publishers 34articles 48first reported 13 Oct, 19:15 UTCdeveloping since 14 Oct · 18 editions
Ukraine’s access to the US-controlled Starshield satellite communications system has been restored after restrictions disrupted battlefield operations, British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said following talks with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Streeting said Hegseth had assured him the service was operating again, but added that the cause of the interruption remained unclear. Ukraine said the disruption began on Oct. 14 without warning and affected military communications, drone strikes and air defence. President Volodymyr Zelensky said speed restrictions prevented some Ukrainian interceptor drones from engaging fast-moving Russian attack drones and called for full access to be restored.
Starshield is the military counterpart to SpaceX’s commercial Starlink network and is controlled by the US government, according to SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk. Both systems are widely used in Ukraine for communications, reconnaissance and drone operations.
Responsibility for the restrictions remains disputed. The Telegraph, citing four people familiar with the matter, reported that Musk proposed imposing speed limits and that President Donald Trump agreed. Musk said decisions about Starshield limits were made by the US military and ultimately the president. Trump denied ordering the restrictions and said he did not believe Musk was responsible.
Ukrainian officials had been negotiating with the Pentagon, SpaceX and other US officials over restoring unrestricted service. Zelensky accused Washington of endangering Ukrainian lives by limiting the system during renewed tensions between Kyiv and the Trump administration.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 6 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 108 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 34
- Source articles
- 48
- Given to the writer
- 8, 6 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 108 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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