Ukraine Confirms Full Starlink Access Restored After Connectivity Dispute

Ukraine reported that its connection to the Starlink satellite internet network is fully stable following several days of reduced capability. Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara announced the restoration of service in a statement on Saturday, confirming that the network once again supports full military operations.

Khmara indicated that data speeds have recovered to levels exceeding 400 km/h, a metric the ministry uses to verify that full network capability has been reinstated. He noted that the restoration is vital for the front lines, drone operations, logistics, and general communications for Ukrainian soldiers.

The recent disruption stemmed from limits imposed on the network. Last week, Ukrainian officials claimed that US President Donald Trump instructed Starlink owner Elon Musk to restrict connectivity. Under those reported limits, drones lost their signal when traveling at speeds of 161 km/h or faster. Trump denied issuing such an order but later acknowledged that Musk had resolved the issue.

Ukraine relies heavily on both the civilian Starlink service and the military-grade Starshield system to pilot drones and coordinate strikes. The network comprises 10,000 low Earth orbit satellites. Musk previously suggested that the Pentagon, which he said controls Starshield, may have been responsible for the recent technical issues. Russia does not have authorization to use the network, which means the connection drops when Ukrainian assets operate deep inside Russian territory.

The connectivity dispute occurred against the backdrop of diplomatic tensions between the United States and Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the US threatened to withdraw intelligence sharing if Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure continued. Trump denied this threat while arguing that those strikes have increased global fuel prices. Kyiv maintains that the attacks are necessary to reduce Moscow's war funding. With midterm elections approaching in the US, Trump has waived certain sanctions on Russia and agreed to import Russian diesel, a move criticized by Ukraine and its European allies.

On the ground, fighting continued on Saturday. The Russian defence ministry reported that its air defenses shot down 616 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones across various regions, including Crimea. Sergey Aksyonov, the Moscow-backed governor of Crimea, said that power and water restrictions were implemented after drone strikes caused local infrastructure damage.

Ukrainian authorities said they targeted a missile component manufacturer, a chemical plant, and an aircraft at a military airfield within Russia over the past 24 hours. They also recorded 88 Russian air strikes on Friday, noting that Russia used 309 glide bombs and 10,270 kamikaze drones in those attacks.