First Thing: US ‘betrayal’ over Starlink undermines Ukrainian defense

On October 15, a Defense Ministry source confirmed that Starlink service utilized by the Ukrainian military has been restored and remains operational. SpaceX had imposed speed restrictions on October 14, limiting connectivity to 100 miles per hour (160 kilometers per hour) without prior notice. These restrictions significantly impacted active military operations, including the deployment of mid-range strike and interceptor drones.

However, as of now, Starshield service remains functional for Ukrainian military units on the move. The Defense Ministry is actively investigating the reasons behind the earlier restrictions. Activist and former advisor to Fedorov, Serhii Sternenko, also reported on the same day that Starlink (Starshield) service had been restored.

Ukraine heavily depends on Starlink for military applications such as conducting its middle strike campaign in Russian-occupied territories and defending against Russia's new jet-powered attack drones. The speed restrictions implemented on October 14 were accompanied by signal disruptions and instability, even at lower speeds. Military personnel from various units reported severe issues with Starlink throughout the day, with the Defense Ministry stating that actual speeds available were lower than the imposed 160 kph limit.