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Translated by: Blerta Haxhiu
- 24 October 2026 14:10
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Ukraine announced on Saturday that the Starlink satellite system and its military version, Starshield, are operating at high speed again, after more than a week of restrictions that hampered military operations and increased tensions with the United States, Reuters reports.
Problems with the systems of Elon Musk's SpaceX company began after US President Donald Trump announced a deal to buy oil from Russia, while pressuring Kiev to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Ukrainian officials said the restrictions hampered the military's ability to intercept Russian attack drones and forced the cancellation of some military operations.
"The monitoring systems of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine are officially recording the restoration of the operating speeds of Starlink and Starshield," the ministry announced via the Telegram platform.
"The connection remains stable, with speeds exceeding 400 kilometers per hour," the announcement said.
The Ukrainian military does not disclose the maximum speeds at which these systems can operate, and the Defense Ministry did not clarify whether service has been fully restored. During the period of restrictions, Ukraine encountered problems using the systems at speeds above 160 kilometers per hour.
Ukraine does not use these systems for long-range drone operations on Russian territory. However, Starlink is essential for frontline communications, while Starshield is used for military operations in occupied territories.