SpaceX restores full Starlink speeds in Ukraine after seven-day cut

Elon Musk confirmed on Saturday that SpaceX ordered the slowdown of Starlink internet speeds in Ukraine, a move that disrupted military communications for more than seven days. The admission followed a statement from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirming that full access to Starlink and Starshield satellite links had been restored.

Musk posted on X that the restriction was necessary because the Ukrainian military used the civilian commercial service for offensive drone strikes. He stated that this usage violated the terms of service and that the company had closed the loophole. Zelenskyy reported that speeds returned to normal overnight and were sufficient by Saturday morning, improving front-line logistics and defenses against Russian Shahed drones.

The speed reduction caused operational challenges for Ukrainian forces. Military commanders reported lost drones and disrupted missions during the week of throttling. Zelenskyy noted that the limitations hampered front-line operations for more than a week. The restoration of full bandwidth was described by Zelenskyy as a critical step for maintaining defense capabilities.

The episode occurred while a new U.S. diplomatic effort to end the war gained momentum. Russia agreed on Wednesday to resume three-way talks with Washington and Kyiv next month. Additionally, Kyiv and Moscow reached a localized ceasefire agreement around Oleshky in the Kherson region, a deal brokered by U.S. first lady Melania Trump.

U.S. officials offered mixed accounts of their involvement in the decision. President Donald Trump said he did not make the call but argued that Musk should not be blamed. Vice-President JD Vance hinted at White House coordination with Musk, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth denied any administration role in the throttle order.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara credited direct dialogue with Washington for the resolution. He stated that the outcome was vital for the military's work with drones, logistics, and communications at the front. The incident added to existing tensions between Kyiv and Washington, which had been strained by a reported U.S. deal with Moscow on Russian diesel imports.

Fighting continued in the region during the week. Local officials reported that a missile attack on Lozova in the Kharkiv region killed one man and wounded two others. Ukrainian forces struck a chemical plant in Tolyatti and an electronics plant in Oryol, where three people died. Drones also reached the Omsk region, where a logistics centre was attacked with no reported casualties.