Musk's Starlink Returns to Full Speed for Ukraine's Drone Fleet
Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara confirmed the restoration of high-speed satellite connectivity after days of restricted access.
By David Almasi ·
Ukraine's Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara announced on Saturday that satellite connectivity had been restored, allowing drone operations to resume at speeds exceeding 400km/h. The statement marks the end of a several-day period where the Ukrainian military operated under restricted access to the Starlink network.
Khmara emphasized that the recovery of these speeds is vital for front-line units, drone pilots, and logistics. "This result is above all important for our front, for our soldiers, for the operation of drones, for logistics and for communications," he said.
The restrictions followed accusations by Ukrainian officials last week that US President Donald Trump had instructed Starlink owner Elon Musk to limit service. Under those limitations, drones reportedly disconnected when reaching speeds of 161km/h. Trump denied issuing such an instruction but later stated that Musk had "put it back".
Musk has suggested that the Pentagon may have been responsible for the connectivity issues, noting that Starshield, the military-grade version of the service, is controlled by the US military. Ukraine relies on the network of 10,000 low Earth orbit satellites to pilot drones and coordinate operations, particularly in remote areas of the battlefield.
The connectivity dispute unfolded against a backdrop of diplomatic friction. Ukraine and its European allies criticized Trump's decision to waive certain sanctions on Russia and secure a deal to import Russian diesel. Trump argued that Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries have pushed global prices higher, while President Volodymyr Zelensky maintained that the attacks are essential to cutting off Moscow's war revenue.
Fighting continues across the region. Russia's defense ministry reported on Saturday that its air defenses shot down 616 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones, with strikes affecting Crimea and other regions. Ukrainian authorities reported hitting a missile component manufacturer, a chemical plant, and an aircraft at a military airfield inside Russia over the past 24 hours.
