SpaceX Reinstates Full Starlink Speeds in Ukraine After One-Week Dispute

SpaceX restored full-speed Starlink service in Ukraine on Saturday, ending a disruption that lasted more than a week. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the restoration on social media, stating that speeds returned to necessary levels overnight. This change improved front-line logistics and the country's ability to defend against Russian Shahed drones.

Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, took responsibility for the slowdown in a post on X. He explained that the company reduced speeds because the Ukrainian military used the civilian commercial network for offensive drone strikes. Musk argued that such usage violated the terms of service, a loophole he said was closed last week. He maintained that the restriction was a technical correction rather than a political decision.

The admission came after questions lingered about who controlled the interruptions. Zelenskyy noted that the slower speeds hampered operations for over seven days. Ukrainian commanders reported lost drones and disrupted missions during the period. The issue extended to Starshield, the military-grade version of the service, which supports critical communications. Musk stated that the U.S. government controls changes to Starshield, though he defended SpaceX's broader role in strengthening Ukraine's defenses since the invasion began in February 2022.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara credited direct dialogue with Washington for the resolution. He emphasized that the outcome was vital for military drones, logistics, and communications on the front lines. The incident added tension to relations between Kyiv and Washington, which had recently strained over a U.S. deal regarding Russian diesel imports.

U.S. officials offered mixed signals about their involvement. President Donald Trump said he did not make the call but suggested Musk should not be blamed. Vice-President JD Vance hinted at White House coordination with Musk, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth denied any administration involvement in the decision.

The technical resolution coincides with renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war. Russia agreed on Wednesday to resume three-way talks with the U.S. and Ukraine next month. On Friday, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to a localized ceasefire around Oleshky in the Kherson region, a deal brokered by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump.

Military operations continued despite the satellite connectivity restoration. Local officials reported a man killed and two wounded in a missile attack on Lozova in the Kharkiv region. Ukrainian forces struck a chemical plant in Tolyatti and an electronics plant in Oryol, where three people died. Drones also reached Omsk region, more than 2,000 kilometers from the border, where a drone attacked an Ozon logistics centre without casualties.