Starlink in Ukraine Back to Normal After Week of Throttling

By Reuters Oct. 24, 2026 A Starlink satellite internet system is set up near the frontline town of Pokrovsk. REUTERS / Inna Varenytsia Ukraine said on Saturday that the Starlink satellite system and its military version Starshield were now fully functional after over a week of restrictions that disrupted military operations and intensified tensions with the U.S. Problems with Elon Musk's SpaceX-owned systems came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal to buy Russian diesel while pressing Kyiv to stop striking Russian oil refineries. Ukrainian officials said the restrictions, which capped operations at speeds of 160 kilometers per hour (kph), hampered the military's ability to intercept Russian attack drones and forced the cancellation of some operations. "The main thing for today is that Starlink and Starshield have resumed operations at their pre-restriction speeds. The speeds are now at the level we need," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on the Telegram app. According to Zelensky, the speeds started returning to normal overnight. Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on Saturday the connection remained stable at over 400 kph. Ukraine does not rely on the systems for long-range drone operations on Russian territory, including attacks on refineries. But Starlink remains vital for frontline communications, and the deployment of Starshield-enabled medium-range attack drones has helped Ukraine gain the upper hand in several areas of the battlefield this year. Limitations order The restrictions sparked outrage in Ukraine, particularly as they coincided with disruptions to allied warnings about incoming Russian missile attacks. Kyiv later said it continued to receive U.S. intelligence. Neither Musk nor the U.S. government has acknowledged responsibility for restricting Starlink or Starshield in Ukraine. Both have said publicly that any such decision could only have been taken by the other. Reuters has reported that the order to throttle Starshield came from inside the White House. Previously, U.S. administrations had several times asked SpaceX to turn Starlink on or off in various countries, sources said. On Friday, contradicting his previous statement that the services had been fully restored, Trump said that if problems persisted, he would "get it straightened out." Read more about: Ukraine war Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia in Talks With Ukraine on Humanitarian Corridor for Stranded Kursk Residents The Kremlin previously said it was “doing everything possible” to support civilians in the occupied parts of the Kursk region. 2 Min read Ukraine War ‘Monopoly’ Game Goes on Sale in Russia The game, called “Special Operation on the Outskirts,” casts up to six players as Russian battalion commanders. 1 Min read News Analysis U.S., Ukraine and Russia Soften Positions Ahead of Mooted Ceasefire Talks The maximalist positions that all parties to the war have until now held appear to be shifting. 5 Min read Ukrainian Drone Attack Kills 3 in Russia’s Belgorod Region, Governor Says Regional authorities urged residents to avoid areas near the border with Ukraine that regularly come under attack. 1 Min read