Ukraine reported on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, that the Starlink satellite system and its military version, Starshield, have returned to full operating speeds. The announcement follows more than a week of restrictions that capped speeds, which Ukrainian officials said disrupted military operations and increased tensions with the U.S.
The technical issues occurred after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal to purchase Russian diesel and urged Kyiv to cease strikes on Russian oil refineries. During the period of restrictions, service was limited to speeds of 160 kilometers per hour (kph), which officials said hindered the military's ability to intercept attack drones and led to the cancellation of certain operations.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on the Telegram app that speeds began returning to normal overnight and have reached levels required by the military. Ukraine's defense ministry said on Saturday that connections were stable at speeds exceeding 400 kph. While Ukraine does not use these systems for long-range strikes on Russian refineries, Starlink remains vital for frontline communications, and Starshield facilitates the use of medium-range attack drones.
Responsibility for the service limitations remains unconfirmed, as both Elon Musk and the U.S. government have stated that such decisions would rest with the other party. However, Reuters has reported that the order to throttle Starshield originated within the White House. On Friday, Oct. 23, President Trump stated he would "get it straightened out" if problems with the service continued.
The incident highlights the dependence of Ukrainian defense infrastructure on private technology providers and U.S. executive policy. The disruption coincided with a period when Ukrainian officials reported interruptions in allied warnings regarding incoming Russian missile attacks, though Kyiv stated it continued to receive U.S. intelligence. The scale of the impact was felt across frontline sectors where Starlink serves as the primary communication link between units, affecting terminals deployed in the conflict zone.
The restoration of service follows a period of friction between Kyiv and Washington regarding energy policy and military targets. While the immediate technical restrictions have been lifted as of Oct. 24, the event sets a precedent for how diplomatic disagreements between the U.S. and Ukraine may manifest in the operational availability of critical battlefield technology. The stability of these connections is monitored by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, while President Trump has indicated further intervention is possible if service issues re-emerge. No specific deadlines for future policy changes regarding the system have been announced.