Ukraine Regains Full Drone Speed on Starlink After Connectivity Drop

Ukrainian drones can now travel at speeds exceeding 400 kilometers per hour on the Starlink satellite network, a threshold that was previously blocked by connectivity limits. Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara announced the restoration of full capability on Saturday, marking the end of a multi-day disruption that forced military units to adjust their operational parameters.

The previous restrictions caused drones to lose their satellite connection when they moved faster than 161 kilometers per hour, or 100 miles per hour. This speed cap significantly impacted the range and effectiveness of long-range unmanned aerial vehicles. Khmara stated that the return to higher speeds is vital for the front lines, specifically for drone operations, logistics, and communications. He noted that the stability of the connection is now above all else important for soldiers engaged in combat.

The dispute originated last week when Ukrainian officials accused US President Donald Trump of instructing Elon Musk, the owner of Starlink, to impose these limits. Trump initially denied giving such an order but later acknowledged that Musk had resolved the issue by putting the service back to normal. The tension arose amid a broader diplomatic disagreement between the US and Ukraine regarding Kyiv's strikes on Russian oil infrastructure.

Ukraine relies heavily on both the civilian Starlink service and the military-grade Starshield network to pilot drones and run operations, particularly in remote areas of the battlefield. The network consists of 10,000 low Earth orbit satellites. Musk has indicated that Starshield is controlled by the US military, suggesting that the Pentagon may have been involved in the recent service adjustments. Russia is not authorized to use Starlink, which means the network does not function when Ukrainian long-range missiles or drones penetrate deep into Russian territory to target oil refineries.

The connectivity issues coincided with Trump's decision to waive some sanctions on Russia and agree to a deal importing Russian diesel for the US market ahead of midterm elections. Zelensky argued that the strikes on Russian refineries are essential for cutting off Moscow's primary war revenue, while Trump contended that the attacks have driven up global fuel prices. The US president also threatened to withdraw intelligence sharing if the strikes continued, a claim he later denied. Zelensky said the US also appeared to limit Starlink access in Ukraine as part of this pressure.

On the ground, fighting continues at a high intensity. Russia's defence ministry reported on Saturday that its air defences shot down 616 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones. These drones struck several regions, including the Russian-annexed Crimea. Sergey Aksyonov, the Moscow-backed governor of Crimea, reported that electricity and water restrictions were introduced following a drone strike that caused power cuts in the region.

Ukrainian authorities stated that in the past 24 hours, they targeted a missile component manufacturer, a chemical plant, and an aircraft at a military airfield inside Russia. They also reported that Russia conducted 88 air strikes on Friday, deploying 309 glide bombs and 10,270 kamikaze drones.