Ukraine Restores Stable Starlink Connection After Military Connectivity Disruptions
Ukraine says its military has regained stable access to Starlink satellite internet after days of connectivity restrictions disrupted operations, particularly the deployment of drones on the battlefield.
Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara announced on Saturday that the network was functioning at speeds exceeding 400 kilometres per hour, suggesting that the previous limitations had been lifted.
He said the improvement was crucial for frontline troops, drone operations, military logistics and communications, as Kyiv relies heavily on the satellite network to sustain its war effort.
Ukraine had raised concerns last week that restrictions on Starlink, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, were affecting its military capabilities. Kyiv alleged that the limits caused drones travelling at speeds above 161 kilometres per hour to lose connectivity.
US President Donald Trump denied instructing Musk to impose the restrictions, later indicating that the service had been restored.
The disruption sparked fresh concerns over Ukraine’s dependence on privately operated satellite technology, with its forces relying on thousands of low-Earth-orbit satellites to maintain communications and coordinate operations in remote battlefield areas.
Ukraine uses both Starlink’s civilian service and Starshield, a more secure system that Musk has said is controlled by the US military. His remarks fuelled speculation about whether the Pentagon was involved in the connectivity problems.
Starlink is not authorised for Russian use, meaning it does not provide connectivity for Ukrainian long-range attacks inside Russia. Kyiv has increasingly targeted Russian oil refineries, which it considers a critical source of revenue for Moscow’s war effort.
The Starlink dispute emerged amid wider diplomatic tensions between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.
Trump has argued that strikes on Russian oil facilities have contributed to rising global fuel prices, while Ukraine and its European allies have criticised Washington’s approach to Moscow, including its reported easing of certain sanctions and agreement to import Russian diesel.
Although the attacks have affected energy markets, other factors, including the war involving Iran, have also contributed to this year’s fuel price increases.
Zelensky has also alleged that Washington threatened to suspend intelligence-sharing with Kyiv unless the attacks stopped, a claim Trump denied.
Despite the restoration of Starlink connectivity, fighting continues on multiple fronts.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Saturday that its air defences had intercepted 616 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones across several regions, including Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014.
Ukraine, meanwhile, reported striking a manufacturer of missile components, a chemical plant and an aircraft at a Russian military airfield within the preceding 24 hours.
Ukrainian authorities also accused Russia of launching 88 air strikes on Friday, involving 309 glide bombs and 10,270 kamikaze drones.
The restoration of Starlink offers a crucial boost to Ukraine’s battlefield communications, but the episode has underscored how access to privately controlled technology can become a significant strategic vulnerability in an increasingly technology-driven war.
