Ukraine Reports Stable Starlink Connection After Military Network Limits
Kyiv's defense minister stated full capability has been restored after days of restricted satellite connectivity impacting drone operations.
Ukraine's defense minister announced that the country now has a "stable connection" to the Starlink satellite network, following several days of restricted connectivity that had hampered military operations. The full capability of the network has reportedly been restored, with speeds now exceeding 400 km/h, according to a statement from Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara.
The Ukrainian military relies on Starlink, and its secure counterpart Starshield, for critical functions such as piloting drones and other operations, particularly in remote areas.
The disruption emerged last week, with Ukraine's military reporting that drone connections were lost when traveling at speeds of 161 km/h (100 mph) or more. The limitations were attributed by some reports to decisions made by Elon Musk, owner of Starlink's parent company, SpaceX.
While the exact cause of the restrictions remains unclear, Khmara emphasized the importance of a stable connection for the front lines, soldiers, drone operations, logistics, and communications. Ukraine utilizes both the civilian Starlink service and the more secure Starshield, which Musk has indicated is controlled by the U.S. military.
Starlink is not authorized for use by Russia. Ukrainian military actions, such as long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries, are understood to not utilize the Starlink network.
The Starlink issue surfaced amidst broader diplomatic discussions. Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, which Kyiv asserts are vital to cutting off Moscow's war funding, have been a point of contention. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that the U.S. had also threatened to withdraw intelligence sharing if these strikes continued, a claim that has been denied by U.S. officials.
Meanwhile, conflict on the ground persists. Russian authorities reported power outages in Russian-annexed Crimea following a Ukrainian drone attack. Separately, Russian-backed officials stated that three people were killed and another wounded in a Ukrainian strike in Kharkiv.