Starlink Speed Caps Lifted For Ukraine

Ukraine's government announced on Saturday that its military now has a stable connection to Starlink. The restoration of service follows a period of restricted access that began ten days prior, during which the satellite communications system was subjected to sudden speed limits.

The terminals are manufactured by SpaceX but managed by the United States government. They serve as a critical component of Ukrainian military operations. The abrupt cap on speeds, which limited operations to 160km/h, resulted in the failure of several combat missions earlier this month.

These restrictions hampered the ability to intercept Russian attack drones, and some operations targeting areas behind enemy lines were cancelled. Russia was also able to fire ballistic missiles at Ukraine without receiving advance warning from the U.S.

The timing of the slowdown coincided with an announcement regarding a U.S. deal to purchase Russian diesel. President Donald Trump initially denied that his administration was involved in the decision to restrict intelligence sharing with Ukraine, saying he did not believe Musk was responsible either.

Officials offered conflicting accounts of who initiated the limits. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the president has nothing to do with such decisions. Musk, in turn, pointed to the administration, writing on X that the systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government and that speed limits are ultimately decided by the president. Vice-president JD Vance supported Musk, saying he does not want to get involved in a war without government direction.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy placed responsibility on both parties, stating that the American government requested the speed limit and SpaceX carried it out. He noted that Starshield terminals in EU countries faced no similar restrictions, which applied only to Ukraine, calling it a planned operation that would bring human losses.

Zelenskyy announced the restoration of service via Telegram, thanking U.S. allies for resolving the problem. He said speeds were reduced overnight but were sufficient for operational use by morning, which is critical for frontline logistics and the defense against jet-powered Shaheds.

The situation had been unclear earlier in the week. While Trump claimed on Thursday that service was fully restored, a European official denied it was functioning normally. On Friday, Trump said he had not spoken to Musk but might need to intervene if a problem existed. The restoration of service was confirmed on Saturday.