Ukraine Satellite Speeds Return to 250 mph After Week of Throttling

Ukrainian satellite internet speeds jumped from approximately 100 mph back to more than 250 mph on Saturday, ending a week of restricted connectivity that complicated military operations. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the change on X, stating that Starlink and the military Starshield system had returned to their pre-restriction levels. The Defense Ministry confirmed the data, noting that monitoring systems showed stable connectivity at the higher speeds.

The slowdown began more than a week ago, creating friction between Washington and Kyiv. Ukrainian officials suspected the U.S. government had ordered the reduction. Zelenskyy told NBC's Meet the Press that SpaceX acted on a message from the American government. Elon Musk supported this view on October 14 when he posted that Starshield is owned and controlled by the U.S. government, adding that speed limits are decided by the U.S. military and President Trump.

The Trump administration has not confirmed its role in the restrictions. Speaking to reporters on Friday, President Trump declined to identify who ordered the cuts. "I wouldn't tell you if I did know," he said. He also defended SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, calling him a fair person. Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara attributed the restoration to direct dialogue by Zelenskyy and thanked American officials, including members of Congress and the State Department.

The speed reduction affected critical military functions. The Defense Ministry said the lower speeds hampered drone interception efforts and disrupted logistics, such as transporting food and water to soldiers. Starlink remains central to Ukraine's defense infrastructure, supporting communications along the front line and protection against Iranian-made Shahed drones.

The restoration arrives as diplomatic efforts accelerate. Russia has agreed to a trilateral meeting with Ukraine and the United States next month. The two sides also reached a localized ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, a deal brokered by First Lady Melania Trump. The arrangement includes humanitarian aid and civilian evacuation plans amid a food crisis in the region.

Combat operations continued on Saturday despite the diplomatic progress. Ukrainian forces attacked a chemical plant in the Russian city of Tolyatti. In Kyiv, a Russian drone struck a residential building in the Obolon District, starting a fire. The satellite speed restoration now allows military units to resume full-capacity digital operations while these parallel tracks unfold.