Ukraine’s military has regained full access to Starlink satellite internet services following more than a week of speed restrictions, Ukrainian officials announced on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that restoration began Friday night and that by Saturday morning, connection speeds were sufficient to support front-line logistics and defense against reactive "Shahed" drones. Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara reported that monitoring systems now show stable connections for equipment traveling faster than 250 mph.
SpaceX owner Elon Musk confirmed on Saturday that the company had intentionally throttled the service. Musk stated on the social media platform X that the Ukrainian military had violated terms of service by using the civilian system for offensive drone strikes. "That loophole was closed last week," Musk wrote, while noting that any adjustments to Starshield—the military-grade version of the service—were directed by the U.S. government.
The disruption caused concern among Ukrainian commanders, who reported lost drones and interrupted missions during the period of limited connectivity. The resolution follows what Khmara described as "direct dialogue" between President Zelenskyy and Washington. The restoration coincides with a new diplomatic push, including Russia's agreement on Wednesday to resume trilateral talks and a localized ceasefire brokered by first lady Melania Trump on Friday in the town of Oleshky.
WHO: Elon Musk, SpaceX, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. WHAT: Restoration of Starlink satellite internet speeds in Ukraine after a week-long disruption. WHEN: Saturday, October 24, 2026 WHERE: Ukraine WHY: SpaceX throttled the service citing violations of terms of use regarding offensive military operations, while Ukraine sought restoration to maintain drone operations and logistics.