Starlink connection restored at high speed in Ukraine, defense minister says

SpaceX's Starlink and Starshield satellite communications services have been fully restored in Ukraine, according to Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara. The restoration enables the country's forces to operate drones at high speeds. Khmara informed reporters on Saturday that monitoring systems have shown Starlink/Starshield speeds have returned to normal, with recorded speeds surpassing 400 km/h.

The connection is stable. Since last week, Ukraine had been experiencing speed limitations on Starshield, impacting the use of drones and defensive strikes. These restrictions emerged amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine, with Trump attributing the war's continuation to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. On Friday, Ukrainian officials reported to POLITICO that drones continued to lose signal above 160 km/h speed, even after U.S. President Donald Trump claimed SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had "put it back" on Thursday.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham also raised the issue in a phone conversation with Trump on Friday. Khmara emphasized that the Ministry of Defense will continue to monitor and track the performance of Starlink/Starshield, recognizing its primary importance for frontline operations, military personnel, drone logistics, and communications.