Ukraine regains 400 km/h satellite speed after two-week dispute

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on October 24 that the Starshield satellite communications system has returned to its previous operational speed. He described the restoration as vital for frontline logistics and the defense against jet-powered Shahed drones. This development ends a nearly two-week period of restrictions that limited the bandwidth available to military units.

Defense Minister Yevheniy Khmara stated that Kyiv’s monitoring systems recorded restored connectivity on equipment moving faster than 400 kilometers per hour. Prior to this fix, a Ukrainian official reported that satellite links were dropping at approximately 161 kilometers per hour. This lower speed threshold prevented drone interceptors and other fast-moving assets from maintaining stable connections during critical engagements.

The cause of the speed reduction remains unconfirmed. Serhiy Beskrestnov, a defense technology adviser to the president, suggested the limits may relate to recent tensions between Kyiv and Washington. However, no official link has been established. The Trump administration denies that the US government requested the changes, while Elon Musk has stated that the government controls Starshield usage decisions.

The Wall Street Journal reported that President Donald Trump spoke with Musk to urge the lifting of the restrictions. Following that conversation, communications reliability improved. Trump told reporters, "if there is a problem, I will get it straightened out." Members of Congress from both parties have demanded details on who authorized the changes and are seeking guarantees for future access.

The connectivity issues emerged alongside other diplomatic moves that Ukrainian officials viewed as advantageous to Russia. In the past fortnight, Trump announced a deal encouraging Russian diesel exports and waived pending sanctions. He also urged Kyiv to pause attacks on Russian oil refineries, citing high diesel prices. Zelenskyy initially agreed to a pause but ended it after Russian strikes continued, declaring Kyiv was done with unilateral restraint.

Fighting persisted overnight despite the technical resolution. Ukrainian air defense forces intercepted 100 of 130 Russian drones launched during the night. Attacks on 15 locations resulted in at least two deaths. Ukrainian forces struck two industrial sites and a military airport in Russia. One target in Oryol produces components for cruise and ballistic missiles, while a facility in Togliatti manufactures rubber for solid rocket fuel.

In a separate incident, most of occupied Crimea experienced a widespread power outage in the early hours. NetBlocks recorded a near-total loss of connectivity in cities including Simferopol, Sevastopol, Yalta, Kerch, and Feodosia. Russian-installed authorities reported that mobile service reached only 40 percent of the area. Sergei Aksyonov, the regional head, blamed a drone attack on main power lines outside Crimea, a claim Ukraine has not yet confirmed.