Ukraine Reports Full Restoration of Starlink Service for Drones

Ukraine's military has regained full operational use of Starlink satellite links for its drones and other high-speed equipment, Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara announced Saturday. The restoration follows a week of speed restrictions that Ukrainian officials said had hampered front-line operations and led to lost drones and disrupted missions.

Khmara stated that Ukraine's Defense Ministry monitoring systems are now reporting stable connections for objects traveling faster than 400 kilometers per hour (250 mph). He attributed the resolution to "direct dialogue" and diplomatic efforts by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with Washington. The outcome, he added, is critical for the military's operations, particularly for drone work, logistics, and communications.

Zelenskyy had noted on Friday that Ukraine was still experiencing speed limits on Starlink and its military-grade counterpart, Starshield. Questions have persisted regarding who was responsible for the initial interruptions to the Elon Musk-developed satellite internet system, which has been a crucial tool for Ukraine in its defense against Russian attacks. While the specifics of who ordered the limitations remain unclear, Starshield serves as the backbone for Ukraine's drone operations and communications.

This episode occurred amidst broader diplomatic efforts. U.S. envoys have been engaged in new initiatives to end the conflict. Russia agreed on Wednesday to resume three-way negotiations with Washington and Kyiv in the upcoming month. Additionally, Kyiv and Moscow consented on Friday to a localized ceasefire brokered around Oleshky, a war-torn town in Ukraine's southern Kherson region under Russian occupation.

The Starlink service limitations had added to existing tensions between Kyiv and Washington, a relationship already strained by President Donald Trump's reported agreement with Moscow concerning Russian diesel imports, which Ukraine perceived as a breach of trust.