400km/h: Ukraine Says Starlink Speeds Restored

Ukrainian officials announced on Saturday, October 24, 2026, that access to Starlink satellite internet services has been fully restored. Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara confirmed in a statement that the network is stable once more, stating, "This result is above all important for our front, for our soldiers, for the operation of drones, for logistics and for communications." The restoration of service allows for speeds exceeding 400km/h, a capability that had been restricted in recent days.

The connectivity issues began last week when Ukrainian officials accused US President Donald Trump of instructing Elon Musk, the owner of Starlink, to limit the network's capabilities. During that period, reports indicated that drones lost connection when traveling at speeds of 161km/h or faster. While President Trump denied ordering the restrictions, he later remarked that Musk had "put it back." Musk has previously stated that Starshield, the military-grade counterpart to the civilian Starlink service, is controlled by the US military, and suggested that the Pentagon could have been responsible for the recent disruptions.

Kyiv relies heavily on the network of 10,000 low Earth orbit satellites to pilot drones and conduct operations, particularly in remote areas of the battlefield. The network does not function for Russian forces, which means Ukraine's long-range missiles and drones lose connectivity when striking deep inside Russian territory, including targets such as oil refineries.

This technical dispute arose amidst a wider diplomatic disagreement between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. With midterm elections scheduled for next month, Trump has waived certain sanctions on Russia and agreed to a deal to import Russian diesel for the US market, a move criticized by Ukraine and its European allies. Trump argues that the strikes on refineries have pushed global prices higher, while Kyiv maintains that the attacks are essential to reducing Moscow's revenue for the war effort.

Zelensky also alleged that the United States threatened to withdraw intelligence sharing if the strikes on Russian oil facilities did not stop, an accusation Trump denied. The situation remains fluid as fighting continues on the ground. Russia's defence ministry reported Saturday that its air defences shot down 616 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones, while Ukrainian authorities claimed to have struck a missile component manufacturer, a chemical plant, and an aircraft at a military airfield inside Russia.