Ukraine's Military Satellite Links Return to Full Speed
Defense officials confirm stable connections exceeding 400 km/h after days of throttled performance hindered drone operations.
By Fatou Kim ·
Ukrainian troops can now rely on satellite communications that operate at full capacity. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on the morning of October 24 that restrictions on Starlink and Starshield systems were lifted. The restoration allows military units to maintain the high data speeds required for real-time logistics and drone control.
The return to normal operations follows several days of reduced performance. Zelenskyy stated that equipment in various sectors along the line of contact was limited to speeds between 130 and 161 km/h. This throttling interfered with supply chains and restricted the use of drones on the front lines.
Technical recovery began overnight on October 23. Defense forces and experts from the Ministry of Defence initially recorded both systems functioning above 161 km/h. By the time of the presidential address, the Ministry issued an official confirmation that the network was stable and registering speeds above 400 km/h.
Zelenskyy described the recovery as vital for protecting Ukraine from jet-powered Shahed drones. He thanked individuals who assisted in restoring the communications infrastructure during the period of disruption.
The bandwidth limits drew political attention in Washington. On October 16, US President Donald Trump stated that the White House was not involved in limiting Ukraine's access to the system. The Telegraph later reported that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had proposed restricting the bandwidth of these networks for the Ukrainian military.
The Ministry of Defence continues to monitor the connection. Current reports indicate the system is holding steady at the pre-restriction levels required for operational use.
