Ukraine says Starlink back to normal after a week of throttling

Ukraine reported on Saturday that Starlink satellite communications and Starshield, its military version, had returned to normal speeds after a week of restrictions. These disruptions interfered with military operations and heightened tensions between Ukraine and the US. The issue arose following US President Donald Trump's statement about a Russian diesel deal while urging Kyiv to cease attacks on Russian oil refineries.

Ukrainian officials confirmed that the restoration of Starlink/Starshield speeds was officially recorded on the Telegram app, with connectivity now exceeding 400 km per hour. While the military does not disclose the maximum operating speeds, they indicated that service may not have been fully restored. Under the restrictions, Ukraine struggled to operate at speeds surpassing 160 km per hour.

Ukraine primarily depends on these systems for frontline communications and as a tool for military operations in occupied territories. The restrictions provoked discontent in Ukraine, especially as they coincided with delays in receiving allied warnings about incoming Russian missile strikes. Neither Elon Musk nor the US government has admitted responsibility for the restrictions, though both have affirmed that such decisions could only be made by the other.

Sources suggest that the order to throttle Starshield originated within the White House. The US administration has previously requested SpaceX to activate or deactivate Starlink in various countries. President Trump stated on Friday that if problems continued, he would address the issue.