Ukraine Says Starlink Speeds Restored After More Than a Week of Restrictions
publishers 34articles 35first reported 23 Oct, 09:09 UTCdeveloping since 23 Oct · 9 editions
Ukraine said Saturday that normal operating speeds had been restored for Starlink and its military version, Starshield, after more than a week of restrictions that disrupted frontline communications and drone operations.
Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara said ministry monitoring systems recorded stable connections at speeds exceeding 400 kilometers per hour. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the restoration began overnight and returned the systems to speeds seen before the restrictions. Khmara attributed the change to direct negotiations and Zelenskyy’s discussions at the highest political level.
The restrictions, first reported on October 14, had limited connections to about 160 kilometers per hour or less, according to Ukrainian officials. They said the cap caused terminals to lose connectivity aboard fast-moving equipment, hindering reconnaissance and strike missions as well as efforts to intercept Russian attack drones. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry did not specify the systems’ maximum operating speed or say whether every aspect of service had been restored.
Responsibility for imposing the limits remains disputed. Zelenskyy previously said Ukrainian officials believed SpaceX acted following a message from the U.S. government. SpaceX chief Elon Musk said speed and usage limits for Starshield were decided by the U.S. military and ultimately the president, while the Trump administration denied interfering. President Donald Trump said Friday that he had not spoken to Musk but would act if access problems persisted.
Zelenskyy thanked Trump, the State Department, members of Congress and other Americans following the restoration.
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 28 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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- Source articles
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- Given to the writer
- 8, 6 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 28 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
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- passed
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WHAT THE EDITOR DID
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