Starlink and Starshield services in Ukraine returned to normal speeds on October 24, 2026, after about a week in which terminals were capped at roughly 161 km/h (100 mph), Ukrainian officials said.
Above 400 km/h
Ukraine’s Defence Ministry said Starshield was again operating above 400 km/h with a stable connection. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed: “The speeds are now where they need to be.” Defence Minister Yevhen Khmara said the ministry would continue to monitor the performance of both systems.
Trump’s intervention
The Wall Street Journal reported that US President Donald Trump ordered Elon Musk on October 21 to lift the limits, saying he was frustrated that speeds were capped near 160 km/h. Trump said he had not spoken to Musk and that “I’ve heard it’s fixed.”
Musk’s claim disputed
Musk claimed Ukraine’s military had violated Starlink’s terms of service by using it for offensive drone strikes, saying, “That loophole was closed last week.” Volunteer Serhii Sternenko and presidential adviser Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov denied any violation, with Sternenko calling such use “technically impossible.”
Lessons for Kyiv
The week-long disruption hit interceptor and strike drone operations and exposed Ukraine’s dependence on a single private provider, adding urgency to efforts to develop alternative satellite links.
Sources
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