Ukraine Regains Full Satellite Speed After Two-Week Drop

Ukrainian military drones can now maintain satellite connections at speeds up to 400 kilometers per hour, a restoration that ends a two-week period of technical limits. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the change on Telegram on October 24, describing the return to normal operations as vital for frontline logistics. He specifically noted the impact on defenses against fast-moving, jet-powered Shahed drones.

The technical shift allows equipment moving at high velocity to stay linked to the network without interruption. Defense Minister Yevheniy Khmara confirmed that monitoring systems recorded restored connectivity on assets traveling faster than 250 miles per hour. This capability was absent for nearly two weeks, during which links reportedly dropped at lower speeds.

The restrictions previously capped effective connectivity at approximately 161 kilometers per hour, or 100 miles per hour. This limit hampered the ability of interceptor drones to maintain contact during missions. Khmara attributed the resolution to direct dialogue and the persistent stance of the Ukrainian leadership. The system in question is Starshield, a military service developed by SpaceX that operates alongside the commercial Starlink network.

Uncertainty remains regarding who authorized the initial slowdown. Serhiy Beskrestnov, a defense technology adviser to Zelenskyy, suggested a connection to recent diplomatic friction between Kyiv and Washington. The US government denies that the president or any official requested the changes. Elon Musk has stated that the US government controls Starshield, with decision-making authority resting with the military and President Donald Trump.

The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Trump spoke with Musk to urge the lifting of restrictions. Trump later told reporters that he would straighten out any problems if they existed. Lawmakers from both major US political parties have requested details on who approved the changes and seek guarantees of reliable access for Ukraine.

The technical fix arrived as diplomatic tensions persisted. Trump recently announced a deal encouraging Russian diesel exports and waived upcoming sanctions. He also urged Kyiv to pause attacks on Russian oil refineries, a move Zelenskyy initially considered before Russian strikes continued. Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is no longer pausing unilaterally.

Combat operations continued overnight. Ukrainian air defenses reported shooting down 100 of 130 Russian drones launched in the previous hours. Attacks on 15 locations killed at least two people. Ukrainian forces struck two industrial sites in Russia, including a facility in Oryol that produces missile components. In Crimea, a power outage affected major cities, which local authorities attributed to a drone attack on transmission lines outside the peninsula.