Ukraine's Starlink Restored After Musk, White House Disagreement

Ukraine's Starlink and Starshield satellite systems have resumed full operational speeds after a period of restrictions that hampered Ukrainian military operations. The disruptions, which began on October 14, had limited connectivity for equipment moving faster than approximately 100 mph, impacting drone missions and efforts to counter Russian attacks.

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Saturday that the systems were restored to their necessary speeds. Ukraine's Defense Ministry reported that its monitoring systems recorded stable connections at speeds exceeding 400 kilometers per hour (about 249 mph).

The restoration followed a period of conflicting reports regarding responsibility for the imposed restrictions. Elon Musk, whose company SpaceX operates Starlink, stated that Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government, with any speed or usage limits determined by the U.S. military and the President. Musk also clarified that Starlink, a commercial service, is intended for civilian or defensive uses and should not be employed for offensive military actions.

Reports from The Wall Street Journal cited anonymous U.S. officials suggesting Musk was responsible for the slowdown. Conversely, Reuters cited anonymous sources indicating the White House ordered the restriction. Sources within the administration told The Post that uncertainty persisted regarding who initiated the slowdown.

Former President Trump commented on the situation, stating he had spoken with Musk and that the limitations were lifted. Ukraine has relied heavily on Starlink for communications since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, making the satellite network a vital tool for its forces. The recent disruptions highlighted the dependence of Ukraine's military communications on privately operated satellite networks and U.S. government-controlled systems.