SpaceX Lifts Speed Caps on Ukrainian Military Links

Ukrainian forces have regained full access to high-speed satellite internet for their military assets. Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara announced the change on Saturday, marking the end of speed restrictions that had hampered front-line operations for more than a week.

Khmara told reporters that ministry monitoring systems now show stable connections for objects moving faster than 250 mph. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that both Starlink and Starshield, the military-grade version of the service, are running at correct speeds. Zelenskyy stated that the restoration began the previous night and that sufficient speeds were available by the following morning.

"Now the speed is what we need," Zelenskyy said. He noted that the return to full bandwidth is critical for front-line logistics and for protecting against "Shaheds," the Iranian-made drones Russia regularly launches.

During the week of restrictions, Ukrainian commanders reported losing drones and facing disrupted missions. The limits on the Starshield system alarmed military and government officials who rely on the network for rapid communication. The episode raised questions about who ordered the interruptions to the system built by Elon Musk's company, a network Ukraine has used for years to counter Russian attacks. Trump maintained that he did not make the decision to limit speeds, while saying Musk should not be blamed.

The restoration arrives as U.S. envoys launch a new push to end the war. Russia agreed on Wednesday to resume three-way negotiations with Washington and Kyiv next month. Additionally, Kyiv and Moscow agreed on Friday to a localized ceasefire around Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in Ukraine's southern Kherson region. First Lady Melania Trump brokered that truce.

The satellite outage added to existing tensions between Kyiv and Washington. The relationship had already been strained by President Donald Trump's reported deal with Moscow regarding Russian diesel imports, which Ukraine viewed as a betrayal. Khmara credited "direct dialogue" and Zelenskyy's diplomacy for resolving the issue. He emphasized that the fix matters most for the military's work in drones, logistics, and communications.

Zelenskyy thanked Americans and all partners who took the situation seriously. The defense minister noted that stable connections are essential for the military's continued operations at the front.