Ukraine Military Reclaims Full Satellite Speeds After Ten-Day Dispute

Ukrainian combat units regained unrestricted access to satellite communications on Saturday, ending a ten-day period where speed limits disrupted frontline operations. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the fix in a Telegram video, stating that Starlink and Starshield systems are running at pre-restriction levels. This restoration allows the military to maintain the data throughput required for logistics and air defense against jet-powered Shahed drones.

The disruption began abruptly earlier this month when speed caps were imposed on the terminals. The restriction limited movement to 160km/h, or 99mph, a threshold that proved insufficient for several active missions. The slowdown caused the failure of specific combat operations and forced the cancellation of strikes on targets behind enemy lines. Most critically, the limits hampered the ability to intercept Russian attack drones, leaving gaps in air defense coverage.

The timing of the restrictions coincided with President Donald Trump’s announcement of a deal for the United States to purchase Russian diesel. The timing fueled speculation about the cause of the technical changes. Trump initially denied that his administration was responsible, telling reporters, "I don't know if it was anybody, but it wasn't me, and I don't think it was Elon." He referred to Elon Musk, the chief executive of SpaceX, which manufactures the hardware.

Political blame shifted quickly among US officials and the Ukrainian government. Secretary of State Marco Rubio directed suspicion toward Musk, noting that the president does not run the company and cannot direct its daily operations. Musk responded by pointing to the US government, writing on X that the systems are owned and controlled by Washington. He stated that the US military decides on usage limits. Vice-President JD Vance supported Musk, arguing that the billionaire does not want to mediate between state actors without clear government direction.

Zelenskyy blamed both parties for the instability. He described the event as a planned operation where the American government sent the message to limit speed, while SpaceX executed the technical change. He noted that similar terminals in European Union countries faced no such restrictions, highlighting that the limits applied exclusively to Ukraine. He warned that the decision would result in human losses due to the operational gaps.

Conflicting reports emerged before the final resolution. On Thursday, Trump claimed the service was back at full speed, but a European official told the Associated Press that it was not fully functioning. When asked on Friday if he would order Musk to stop "messing around," Trump said he had not spoken to the billionaire but might have to. He added, "If there is a problem, I'll get it straightened out," while describing Musk as "very brilliant" and "very good."

The restoration began overnight on Saturday. By morning, Zelenskyy confirmed that speeds were sufficient for operational use. The Ukrainian president thanked US allies, including the State Department and Trump, for resolving the issue. The system now operates at the levels Ukraine requires for its ongoing defense and offensive operations.