Ukraine reports Starlink operating again after slowdown

Ukraine’s Starlink satellite links have been restored after the country experienced limitations with accessing this critical technology, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Saturday.

SpaceX’s military-grade version of Starlink, called Starshield, supports Ukraine’s drone operations and communication.

Zelensky confirmed the restoration in a statement shared on social media Saturday afternoon local time.

“The speeds are now where they need to be,” Zelensky said in the statement. “The restoration began overnight, and by this morning, speeds were already sufficient. This matters: for our frontline logistics, for defending Ukraine against jet-powered ‘shaheds.'”

The Ukrainian leader thanked “all Americans” and partners who assisted in this effort, including U.S. lawmakers, the State Department, the media and Trump.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara told reporters on a call that the ministry’s monitoring systems now reported stable connections for objects traveling faster than around 250 miles per hour.

“The Ministry of Defence’s monitoring systems are recording a return to normal speed for Starlink/Starshield,” Khmara told reporters, according to Reuters. “We are recording a speed of over 400 kph. The connection is stable.”

Khmara attributed the change to “ direct dialogue ” between Zelensky and the Trump administration. He added that the outcome mattered most “for our front, for the military, the work of drones, logistics and communications.”

This announcement follows tensions between Kyiv and the U.S. over President Trump’s Russian diesel deal and decision to postpone sanctions on Moscow — two decisions Zelensky warned endangered Ukrainians in their ongoing war against Russia.

Zelensky said in Friday remarks that Ukraine’s military was still struggling with Starlink satellite speeds limited at around 100 mph.

“The speed limits on Starlink and Starshield are still there, and the speed has not been restored,” the Ukrainian president said.

Earlier that day, Trump told reporters on the White House South Lawn that he had not spoken with SpaceX leader Elon Musk about the restricted Starlink speeds in Ukraine but said he “might have to” if the issue was not fixed.

This week, Russia accepted an invitation to resume three-way negotiations with Ukraine and the U.S.

Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed “in principle” to restart talks after Nov. 10, according to his foreign affairs adviser.

Additionally, the White House said Friday that first lady Melania Trump helped secure a localized ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine that will begin Thursday in the front-line city of Oleshky.

This action will “allow for humanitarian aid to enter and to prepare a civilian evacuation through a designated safe passageway,” according to the White House.