Ukraine has regained a stable connection to the Starlink and Starshield satellite communications systems. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that normal operating speeds have been restored after more than a week of disruptions. The Ukrainian government thanked its US allies for restoring the system, which is critical for air defense and frontline logistics.
The restoration follows a period of tension after SpaceX CEO Elon Musk throttled the service, imposing speed restrictions that capped operations at 160km/h. Musk claimed that Ukraine violated Starlink's terms of service by using the civilian network for offensive drone strikes to kill people. Ukrainian officials disputed these claims, with defense technology adviser Serhii Beskrestnov stating that long-standing restrictions on the civilian system made such offensive use impossible.
The disruptions, which began on October 14, hampered Ukraine's drone forces and led to the failure of several combat missions. Starlink and its military-grade version, Starshield, serve as the backbone of Ukraine's drone operations and provide resilient communication over the battlefield. These systems are produced by SpaceX but are managed by the US government.
The row over the satellite network sparked tensions between Kyiv and Washington. The restoration of service coincides with a new US diplomatic push to end the war, with negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, and the US expected to meet in Abu Dhabi next month. Additionally, the Biden and Trump administrations have several times asked SpaceX to turn its Starlink service on or off in various countries.