Ukraine Reports Full Starlink Speeds Restored After Ten-Day Cap

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Saturday that the country’s military has regained a stable connection to Starlink satellite terminals. The announcement came ten days after a sudden restriction capped terminal speeds at 160 kilometers per hour, a limit that disrupted key military operations.

The speed cap interfered with the ability to intercept Russian attack drones and forced the cancellation of some missions targeting assets behind enemy lines. During the restriction period, Russia launched ballistic missiles at Ukraine without receiving advance warning from the United States. The limits coincided with the Trump administration’s announcement of a deal to purchase Russian diesel.

Disagreement persisted in Washington regarding who imposed the limits. President Donald Trump initially denied that his administration was responsible, stating he did not believe Elon Musk was the cause either. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced this view on Wednesday, asserting that the president does not directly control Starlink or Starshield systems.

Musk countered that the systems are owned and controlled by the US government, arguing that speed limits are determined by the US military and the president. Vice President JD Vance supported Musk’s position on Thursday, noting that the billionaire prefers the US government to direct the service rather than him intervening in a conflict between state actors.

Zelenskyy assigned blame to both parties, describing the event as a planned operation by the American government that was technically executed by SpaceX. He pointed out that Starshield terminals in European Union countries were not subject to the same restrictions, which applied exclusively to Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader warned that the disruption would result in human losses.

Zelenskyy thanked US allies, including Trump and the State Department, for resolving the issue. He stated that Starlink and Starshield resumed operating at pre-restriction speeds, which are now sufficient for frontline logistics and defending against jet-powered Shahed drones. The restoration began overnight, with operational speeds achieved by Saturday morning.

The timeline of the fix remained ambiguous earlier in the week. Trump claimed on Thursday that full speeds had returned, a statement contradicted by a European official who told the Associated Press the system was not fully functioning. On Friday, Trump said he had not yet spoken to Musk but might need to, adding that he would straighten out any problems.