Ukraine Says Starlink Access Restored Above 400 km/h
Ukraine has confirmed that SpaceX’s Starlink and Starshield satellite communication systems are again operating reliably on equipment travelling at speeds exceeding 400 kilometres per hour. Ukrainian Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara announced the development on Saturday, October 24, 2026, following more than a week of restrictions that reportedly disrupted military communications and drone operations during the war with Russia.
Ukraine Confirms Starlink Connectivity Restored
Khmara said monitoring systems operated by Ukraine’s Defence Ministry had recorded stable satellite connections at movement speeds exceeding 400 km/h.
The figure refers to the travelling speed of connected equipment rather than internet download or upload speeds.
Ukraine previously experienced connectivity restrictions affecting Starlink and its military-focused Starshield service, particularly during high-speed operations.
The latest measurements indicate a significant improvement, although authorities have not confirmed whether every service restriction has been lifted.
Starshield Restrictions Disrupted Ukrainian Drone Operations
Ukrainian officials first reported the restrictions on October 14, when connected systems reportedly lost service at movement speeds above approximately 160 km/h.
The limitations affected military communications, drone missions and some operations involving the interception of Russian attack drones.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had raised concerns about the impact on Ukrainian defence capabilities.
Ukraine’s Defence Ministry said it would continue monitoring satellite connectivity to assess service reliability.
Trump and Musk Face Questions Over SpaceX Restrictions
The restoration follows public disagreements over responsibility for the connectivity restrictions.
US President Donald Trump previously indicated that he would intervene if Ukraine’s Starlink access problems continued.
Neither SpaceX chief Elon Musk nor the US government has publicly acknowledged responsibility for imposing the restrictions.
Starlink and Starshield remain important components of Ukraine’s military communications infrastructure, supporting frontline coordination, logistics and unmanned systems.
