Ukraine Says Starlink and Starshield Speeds Restored After Disruptions
publishers 32articles 43first reported 14 Oct, 20:30 UTCdeveloping since 15 Oct · 16 editions
Ukraine said Saturday that high-speed connectivity had been restored to SpaceX’s Starlink and Starshield satellite systems after restrictions disrupted military operations, including drone missions and communications.
The Defense Ministry said connections remained stable on equipment moving faster than 400 kilometers per hour, up from a previous limit of about 160 kilometers per hour. Ukrainian officials had reported continued restrictions Friday despite President Donald Trump saying the service had returned to full speed. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked U.S. officials, lawmakers and others who helped address the problem.
Responsibility for the restrictions remains disputed. Trump said he neither ordered them nor believed SpaceX chief Elon Musk was responsible. Other administration officials have also offered differing accounts, while Musk initially said decisions involving Starshield, SpaceX’s military-oriented service, should be directed to the Pentagon.
On Saturday, Musk said Ukraine had violated the terms of Starlink’s civilian commercial service by using it for offensive drone strikes and that the loophole had been closed. He continued to distinguish Starlink from Starshield, saying the U.S. government controls decisions involving the latter.
The interruptions reportedly caused satellite connections to fail on drones and other equipment traveling faster than 100 mph, prompting abandoned or disrupted missions. U.S. lawmakers have called for investigations into who ordered the changes, and Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said it would continue monitoring both systems.
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 258 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 32
- Source articles
- 43
- Given to the writer
- 8, 6 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 258 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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