Ukraine Reports Drone Speeds Back Above 400km/h After Starlink Outage

Ukrainian Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara confirmed on Saturday that full access to the Starlink satellite network has been restored, ending a period of restricted connectivity that affected military operations. Khmara stated that speeds of more than 400km/h are once again possible on the network, a metric he cited as the indicator of full capability returning.

The restoration was announced after several days in which Ukrainian forces faced limitations on the satellite internet service. Khmara described the return of full speeds as a priority for the front lines, specifically for soldiers, drone operations, logistics, and general communications. He noted that the network is essential for piloting drones and running operations across Ukraine, particularly in remote areas of the battlefield.

The outage occurred against the backdrop of a diplomatic dispute between Washington and Kyiv. Last week, Ukrainian officials claimed that US President Donald Trump instructed Elon Musk, the owner of Starlink, to impose limits on the service. Under those restrictions, drones reportedly lost their signal when traveling at speeds of 161km/h or faster. Trump initially denied issuing such an instruction but later stated that Musk had resolved the issue.

Musk has indicated that the more secure Starshield system, which Ukraine also uses, is controlled by the US military, suggesting the Pentagon may have played a role in the recent disruptions. The tension over satellite access coincided with a wider disagreement regarding Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. Trump argued that these strikes pushed global fuel prices higher, while Kyiv maintained that the attacks were necessary to reduce Moscow's war revenue.

The diplomatic row intensified ahead of the US midterm elections next month, during which time Trump waived some sanctions on Russia and agreed to import Russian diesel. European allies and Ukraine criticized that move. Zelensky also stated that the US threatened to withdraw intelligence sharing if Ukraine continued its strikes, a claim Trump denied.

Combat operations continued throughout the dispute. Russia's defence ministry reported on Saturday that its air defences shot down 616 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones, which targeted several regions including Crimea. Sergey Aksyonov, the governor of Crimea, said electricity and water restrictions were introduced in the region due to power cuts caused by the drone strikes.

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

Next steps include ongoing monitoring of the satellite connection to ensure stability for future drone missions and continued diplomatic discussions between the US and Ukraine regarding sanctions and intelligence sharing.