US President Donald Trump stated that Elon Musk has restored access to the Starlink internet network for Ukraine, following service restrictions that had impacted Kyiv’s military operations. Trump confirmed the restoration when asked about reports that he had personally contacted Musk to urge the removal of limitations, saying, “Bottom line, he put it back.” A Ukrainian soldier using Starlink satellite internet at a position at the front line. According to speaking at a press conference, he, The speed “has not been restored to 400 [km/h; 250mph] yet”, adding: “We are working on it.
The issue had previously created tension, with reports suggesting that service speeds for the military-grade Starshield network were capped at 160km/h.
These restrictions reportedly hindered Ukraine’s ability to deploy offensive drones and manage interceptors against Russian strikes.
The Trump administration has denied issuing any directives to SpaceX to limit access, while Musk has previously suggested that because Starshield was designed for the Pentagon, the US government holds ultimate control over its operation.
Status of Military Connectivity
- Current Speed: President Zelensky noted on Thursday that connectivity had not yet returned to the required 400 km/h threshold.
- Engagement: Zelensky stated he is awaiting updates from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who promised to provide information on the situation within approximately 48 hours.
- Operational Impact: Ukraine remains heavily dependent on Starlink for battle communications and early warning systems to defend against missile attacks.
- Reported Shift: While the Wall Street Journal indicated the system functioned more normally on Thursday following a reported call between Trump and Musk, officials maintain the restoration process is incomplete.
The connectivity challenges coincide with broader diplomatic pressures from the Trump administration, which has urged Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries due to concerns over global price fluctuations.
Furthermore, amid preparations for midterm elections, Trump has moved to waive certain sanctions on Russia and secured an agreement to import Russian diesel for the domestic US market—a policy that has faced criticism from both Ukraine and European allies.
Ukraine first signaled concerns regarding interruptions to US intelligence sharing and network performance on 14 October.
While the White House has repeatedly maintained it did not order any limitations on the satellite service, the situation remains a critical point of friction for Kyiv’s defensive capabilities.
SpaceX has yet to provide a public explanation regarding the technical nature of the slowdown or the recent restoration of services.
