Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence announced on Saturday that connection speeds for the Starlink satellite communications system and its military-grade counterpart, Starshield, have returned to normal levels following more than a week of severe service restrictions. The throttling, which began in mid-October, had significantly hampered Ukrainian military operations and the country’s ability to defend against Russian drone attacks.
Evhenii Khmara, Ukraine’s Defence Minister, told reporters that monitoring systems are now recording data transmission speeds of over 400 kilometers per hour (kph). The metric, used by the ministry to track the performance of the satellite network, indicates a stabilization of the connection after a period of high-stakes volatility on the battlefield.
“The Ministry of Defence’s monitoring systems are recording a return to normal speed for Starlink and Starshield,” Khmara said. “The connection is stable.”
The service disruptions were first detected on October 14, according to official records. During the peak of the restrictions, connection speeds reportedly plummeted to 160 kph or less. This reduction in bandwidth had immediate and tangible consequences for Ukrainian forces, particularly those operating near the frontlines in regions like Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia. Ukrainian officials stated that the slowed connections undermined efforts to intercept Russian attack drones and created gaps in essential frontline communications.
While the restoration of speed is a significant development, the Defence Ministry stopped short of confirming that the service has been fully restored to its previous maximum capacity. The Ukrainian military traditionally keeps the maximum operating specifications of these satellite systems classified, and the ministry’s statement focused on the return to “normal” metrics rather than a total resumption of service.
The timing of the service restrictions coincided with a complex shift in U.S. foreign policy toward the region. The disruptions occurred after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal to purchase Russian diesel and moved to waive certain sanctions against Moscow. Simultaneously, the Trump administration had been exerting pressure on Kyiv to cease its military strikes against Russian oil refineries.
The question of who authorized the throttling of the satellite network remains a point of contention and buck-passing between private industry and government. Neither SpaceX, which owns Starlink, nor the United States government has accepted responsibility for the limitations placed on Ukraine’s service. Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, and U.S. officials have both suggested that such a consequential decision would have to be initiated by the other party. However, reporting has indicated that the specific order to throttle the Starshield system originated from within the White House.
Addressing the ongoing concerns regarding satellite access, President Trump said on Friday that if the connectivity issues in Ukraine persisted, he would take steps to “get it straightened out.” By the following morning, Ukrainian monitoring systems began showing the recorded jump in transmission speeds.
For the Ukrainian military, the reliability of Starlink is not merely a matter of convenience but a core component of its defense infrastructure. Artillery units and specialized rifle battalions rely on the satellite terminals to coordinate strikes and maintain situational awareness in areas where traditional telecommunications have been destroyed by Russian shelling. The week-long slowdown served as a stark reminder of the military’s dependence on the platform and the geopolitical sensitivities that can influence its availability.
