Starlink returns to normal speed in Ukraine after week of restrictions
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on TimesLIVE
Starlink and Starshield services have returned to their usual operating speeds in Ukraine after more than a week of restrictions that disrupted military operations. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that connections had been restored, while Ukraine’s Defence Ministry said they were now running at more than 400 km/h.
The Starlink satellite network and its military version, Starshield, have returned to their previous operating speeds in Ukraine after more than a week of restrictions that disrupted military operations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday. Ukraine’s Defence Ministry said the connection was stable at speeds of more than 400 km/h.
The restrictions had capped operations at 160 km/h and complicated the interception of Russian drones, according to Ukrainian officials. They had also forced the army to cancel some operations. Starlink remains essential for communications on the front line, while medium-range attack drones using Starshield have contributed to Ukrainian advances in several areas of the battlefield this year.
The restrictions prompted strong reactions in Ukraine, while allied alerts about Russian missiles had also been disrupted. Kyiv said, however, that it continued to receive US intelligence. Neither Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX, nor the US government has acknowledged being behind the restrictions. Reuters reported that the order concerning Starshield came from the White House.
On 23 October, Donald Trump said he would call Elon Musk if the disruptions continued. Kyiv’s announcement that services had been restored comes after several days of Starlink restrictions in Ukraine.
