Ukraine lifts speed cap on satellite links after military disruption

Ukrainian military forces have regained full access to satellite internet speeds after several days of restricted connectivity. Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara confirmed the restoration in a statement on Saturday, marking the end of a technical limitation that hampered drone operations and battlefield logistics.

The network now supports speeds exceeding 400km/h. This metric serves as the benchmark for full capability. During the restriction period, drones reportedly lost their signal when traveling at 161km/h. Khmara noted that the return to standard speeds is vital for front-line soldiers, drone operation, and communications.

Ukrainian officials previously accused US President Donald Trump of instructing Starlink owner Elon Musk to impose these limits. Trump denied giving such an order but later acknowledged that Musk had reversed the changes. The dispute arose against the backdrop of a diplomatic rift between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over strikes on Russian oil infrastructure.

The conflict ties into US midterm elections scheduled for next month. Trump has waived some sanctions on Russia and agreed to import Russian diesel for the US market. Kyiv and European allies criticized this move, arguing that strikes on refineries are essential to cutting Moscow's war revenue. Trump argued the strikes pushed global fuel prices higher, although analysts note the Iran war is the primary driver of recent price increases.

Ukraine relies on both the civilian Starlink service and the military-grade Starshield network to pilot drones and manage operations, particularly in remote areas. Musk indicated that the US military controls Starshield and suggested the Pentagon may have been involved in the recent connectivity issues. Russia is not authorized to use the network, which limits its utility for deep strikes inside Russian territory.

Zelensky stated that the US also threatened to withdraw intelligence sharing if Ukraine stopped striking oil targets. Trump denied this threat. The technical fix coincides with continued aerial combat. Russia's defence ministry said its air defences shot down 616 fixed-wing drones on Saturday. These drones struck several regions, including Crimea, where Governor Sergey Aksyonov reported power and water restrictions following the attacks.

Ukrainian authorities reported hitting a missile component manufacturer, a chemical plant, and an aircraft at a Russian airfield in the past 24 hours. They also recorded 88 Russian air strikes on Friday, which involved 309 glide bombs and 10,270 kamikaze drones.