Ukraine reports restored stable Starlink connectivity for military operations

Ukraine's defence minister Yevhenii Khmara announced on Saturday that the country's Starlink satellite internet connection has returned to a stable state, with speeds exceeding 400 km/h. The restoration follows a period last week when the network's performance was restricted, limiting the ability of drones and other military equipment to maintain connectivity at higher velocities.

Khmara said the improved service is critical for frontline troops, drone operations, logistics and communications. Ukraine relies on both the civilian Starlink service and the military-grade Starshield system for operations in remote battlefield areas.

The slowdown was linked to claims that U.S. President Donald Trump asked Starlink owner Elon Musk to impose limits on the service. Trump denied the allegation and later said Musk had restored the full capability.

Musk has previously indicated that Starshield is overseen by the U.S. military, and he suggested that the Pentagon might have been involved in the recent connectivity issues. Russia is not authorized to use Starlink, and the network ceases to function when Ukrainian forces launch long-range missiles or drones into Russian territory.

The incident occurred amid broader diplomatic tensions between the United States and Ukraine over strikes on Russian oil facilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that the United States had also threatened to curtail intelligence sharing if the attacks continued, a claim Trump also denied.

Russia's defence ministry reported on Telegram that its air defences shot down 616 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones, affecting several regions including the Russian-annexed Crimea. Sergey Aksyonov, the governor of Crimea, said restrictions on electricity and water were imposed due to power outages caused by the drone strike.

"This result is above all important for our front, for our soldiers, for the operation of drones, for logistics and for communications," Khmara said in a statement.

"Musk has put it back," Trump said after initially denying any involvement.