Ukraine: Starshield satellite speeds restored to 400 km/h after two-week drop
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on October 24 that high-speed connectivity has returned, ending a restriction that hampered military drone operations.
By Ishani Kapalli ·
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on October 24 that the Starshield satellite communications system is operating at full speed again.
The restoration ends a two-week period of restrictions that limited data rates to 161 kilometers per hour. This lower speed prevented military equipment, including jet-powered drones, from maintaining stable connections while moving faster.
Zelenskyy described the change as very important for frontline logistics and defense against incoming threats. Defense Minister Yevheniy Khmara verified that monitoring systems recorded restored connectivity on equipment traveling above 400 kilometers per hour.
The dispute over the speed cap has complicated diplomatic relations between Kyiv and Washington. Serhiy Beskrestnov, a defense technology adviser, suggested the limits were linked to recent tensions between the two governments. However, no official confirmation of this link has been established.
The White House maintains that the US government did not request the changes. Elon Musk stated that the US military, and ultimately President Donald Trump, controls decisions regarding the Starshield network. Trump told The Wall Street Journal that he spoke with Musk to lift the restrictions, though he declined to elaborate further when asked directly.
Congressional leaders from both parties are seeking clarification on who authorized the slowdown. Lawmakers want guarantees that Ukraine will retain reliable access to the satellite network in the future.
The timing of the speed limit coincided with other US policy moves that Ukrainian officials view as favorable to Russia. President Trump recently announced a deal encouraging Russian diesel exports and waived upcoming sanctions. He also urged Kyiv to pause strikes on Russian refineries, a move Zelenskyy accepted initially but reversed after Russia continued its attacks.
Fighting continued across the front line overnight. Ukrainian air defense forces reported shooting down 100 of 130 Russian drones launched in the past 24 hours. Attacks on 15 locations resulted in at least two deaths. Ukrainian forces struck two industrial facilities in Russia, one in Oryol and another in Togliatti, both of which produce components for missile systems.
Most of the occupied Crimea region lost electricity in the early morning hours. The blackout affected major cities including Simferopol, Sevastopol, Yalta, and Kerch. Russian authorities blamed a drone attack on main power lines outside the peninsula, while Ukrainian monitors reported a fire at the Taman substation in Krasnodar, which supplies power to Crimea.
With a fifth winter of war approaching, peace negotiations remain stalled. The Kremlin has offered no new concessions, and Ukraine continues its defensive operations despite the recent logistical disruptions.
Source: RFE/RL
