Ukraine says Starlink and Starshield speeds have been restored
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the services returned to pre-restriction speeds after more than a week of disruptions.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
Ukraine says Starlink has been restored to the speeds available before recent restrictions, along with the military-oriented Starshield service. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Oct. 24 that the recovery began overnight and that connection speeds were usable by morning.
The announcement matters because Ukraine relies on the satellite communications services for frontline communications, logistics and drone operations. Zelenskyy said restored performance would also help its defenses against jet-powered Shahed drones.
Has Starlink been restored in Ukraine?
According to Zelenskyy, Starlink and Starshield had returned to their pre-restriction speeds as of Oct. 24. Ukraine’s presidential office said Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara had reported successful tests of both services.
The claim is an official Ukrainian assessment, rather than an independent confirmation that service has returned everywhere or for every user. RFE/RL reported that Zelenskyy said both networks were again operating normally.
Starlink is SpaceX’s satellite internet network. Starshield is a related service used by the military. NPR reported that Ukraine uses Starlink for tasks including communications at the front, drone operations and moving supplies such as food and water to troops.
What is known about the earlier disruption?
The disruption or restriction lasted for more than a week, according to NPR and RFE/RL. RFE/RL reported that the problems had constrained Ukrainian defensive operations during that period.
NPR reported that Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said its monitoring showed stable connectivity above 250 mph after speeds had been limited to about 100 mph. The ministry did not explain the measurement in the reporting, and the figures have not been independently verified in the material available.
Responsibility for the limits remains disputed. NPR reported that Zelenskyy said Ukrainian officials believed the U.S. government had prompted SpaceX to impose restrictions. The Trump administration denied interfering with Ukraine’s Starshield access.
Elon Musk wrote on X on Oct. 14 that Starshield is owned and controlled by the U.S. government, and that decisions on speed or use limits rest with the U.S. military and ultimately the president, NPR reported. The available accounts do not establish the cause, technical method, geographic reach or permanence of the earlier disruption.
In his address, Zelenskyy thanked Americans, U.S. officials, lawmakers and other partners for helping restore the services. Ukraine’s presidency published the remarks on Oct. 24.
This story draws on original reporting from NPR.