Starlink Speeds: Ukraine Regains Full 400 km/h Access

SpaceX has restored full-speed connectivity to the Starshield satellite network, removing a bandwidth cap that restricted Ukrainian military assets. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the change on October 24 via Telegram, stating the speed is now "where we need it to be." The restoration ends a nearly two-week period during which the system limited data throughput.

The technical threshold for full service is 400 kilometers per hour, or 250 miles per hour. Defense Minister Yevheniy Khmara told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service that Kyiv monitors confirmed equipment moving at that speed regained stable links. Before the fix, a Ukrainian official reported that connections dropped when vehicles exceeded 161 kilometers per hour, roughly 100 mph. That lower limit prevented drone interceptors and other fast-moving units from maintaining reliable communication.

The disruption occurred without a clear announcement from the provider. Khmara attributed the resolution to "direct dialogue and the Ukrainian president's persistent stance." Serhiy Beskrestnov, an adviser on defense technology, suggested the limits may relate to recent friction between Kyiv and Washington. However, no formal link has been established. The Trump administration denies that the US government requested the changes. Elon Musk has stated that the government controls Starshield and that the military, ultimately under President Donald Trump, makes decisions on speed and use.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that Trump called Musk to urge the lifting of restrictions. Following that contact, communications became more reliable. When asked about the incident, Trump said, "if there is a problem, I will get it straightened out." Lawmakers from both parties in Congress have requested details on who authorized the slowdown. They are seeking guarantees that Ukraine will maintain reliable access to the network.

The timing of the restriction coincided with other shifts in US policy that Zelenskyy and Western allies believe benefit Moscow. Over the past two weeks, Trump announced a deal encouraging Russian diesel exports and waived sanctions set to take effect under a law signed last month. He also urged Kyiv to pause attacks on Russian oil refineries, citing high diesel prices. Zelenskyy initially considered a pause but declared Kyiv "done" with unilaterally halting strikes after Putin ordered continued attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.

Aerial combat continued through the night of the restoration. Ukrainian air defense forces reported shooting down 100 of 130 drones launched by Russia. Attacks on 15 locations killed at least two people. Ukraine's General Staff said its forces struck two industrial sites and a military airport in Russia. One target in Oryol, approximately 350 kilometers southwest of Moscow, manufactures components for cruise and ballistic missiles. A second site in Togliatti, in the Samara region, produces rubber products used in solid rocket fuel.

In a separate incident, most of Russia-occupied Crimea lost electricity in the early morning. The outage affected Simferopol, Sevastopol, Yalta, Kerch, and Feodosia. NetBlocks recorded a near-total loss of internet connectivity in the region. Russian-installed authorities stated that mobile service reached only 40 percent of the area. Public electric transport was suspended in Sevastopol, and water pressure dropped significantly. Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-appointed head of the occupation administration, blamed a drone attack on main power lines outside Crimea.

Ukraine has not issued a public comment on the power outage, and the cause has not been independently verified. Ukrainian monitoring channels reported a fire at the Taman electrical substation in Russia's Krasnodar region. That substation supplies power to Crimea via the Kerch Strait. As a fifth wartime winter approaches, peace talks remain stalled and the Kremlin has offered no new concessions.