Ukraine Warupdated 1h ago2 min read
Ukraine Says Starlink And Starshield Restored After Zelenski Warned Of Military Impact
“Neither Mr Musk nor the US government, which operates Starshield using Starlink technology, have taken responsibility for imposing the speed curbs.”
“SpaceX imposed speed limits to prevent Ukrainian drones from using the system, arguing that Starlink was ‘never intended to be weaponized’.”
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Starlink and Starshield speeds returned to pre-restriction levels following October restrictions. Kyiv warned October restrictions impeded military operations.
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Speed curbs and access restored
Ukraine reported that Starlink and Starshield recovered the speeds they had before the October restrictions after Kyiv warned that the limitation affected its military operations. President Volodímir Zelenski announced on October 24 that both systems had returned to their previous speeds, and Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense also reported a stable connection and operation at speeds exceeding 400 kilometers per hour.
Before the restoration, Ukraine reported restrictions for moving terminals above 160 kilometers per hour, which hampered the use of certain drones. Elon Musk argued that Ukraine had used Starlink for offensive drone attacks, contrary to the service’s terms, and Musk said the “loophole” was recently “closed.”
Who ordered the limits
The question of who ordered the change remained unresolved, while the sources described competing attributions for the restriction on Starlink and Starshield. The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk ordered it, while Reuters attributed the decision to the White House, as Gizmodo reports.
Musk attributed the Starshield restrictions to the U.S. government, and U.S. officials and Musk have denied having made the decision, according to The Guardian and Gizmodo. In parallel, Ukraine signed a letter of intent on October 22 with Finnish companies ICEYE and Nokia to explore cooperation in satellite communications, with the stated objective of helping develop a capability that Ukraine can control.
Europe seeks sovereign alternatives
Europe’s push for alternatives accelerated as rival satellite companies jockeyed to loosen Elon Musk’s grip on battlefield communications after SpaceX’s restrictions on Ukraine’s Starlink service shook officials in Europe and the U.S.
“We must all rely on capabilities that we can control.”
ICEYE and Nokia’s initial satellites were described as “expected to launch in 2028,” and Zelenskyy said in the announcement, “We must all rely on capabilities that we can control.”
Eutelsat CEO Jean-François Fallacher said the company’s governance meant that “It is a decision made by our board of directors,” and Rebecca Wasser said the Starlink incident shows a “loss of faith” in a U.S. company’s ability to provide key services.
The dispute also fed broader stakes for allied planning, as Sen. Richard Blumenthal wrote that “The events in Ukraine show how a single point of control can be turned against the forces that depend on it.”