Ukraine says satellite internet is fast again

Ukraine's military satellite internet services have resumed full operation after a week of reduced performance. The restoration of speeds for Starlink and Starshield was confirmed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday, following a period where connectivity was limited to approximately 100 miles per hour.

The Defense Ministry reported that monitoring systems now show stable connections exceeding 250 miles per hour. This increase matches the speeds recorded before the restrictions began. During the slowdown, officials stated that the lower bandwidth interfered with drone interception efforts and complicated mission logistics along the front line.

Zelenskyy announced the change on X, writing that operations have returned to pre-restriction levels. He stated, "The speeds are now where they need to be." Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara attributed the recovery to direct dialogue led by the president. Khmara noted the improvement is essential for service members, drone operations, and communications at the front.

The cause of the initial slowdown created tension between Kyiv and Washington. Ukrainian officials told NBC's Meet the Press that they believed the U.S. government ordered the limits. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, posted on X on Oct. 14 that Starshield is owned by the U.S. government and that speed limits are decided by the U.S. military and the president.

President Trump has denied interfering with the system. Speaking to reporters on Friday, he declined to identify who ordered the restrictions, saying, "I wouldn't tell you if I did know." He also defended Musk, describing him as a fair person who will never do anything wrong. Zelenskyy thanked members of Congress, the State Department, and the president for the resolution.

The restored connectivity supports Ukraine's defense against Russia, including operations against Iranian-made Shahed drones. The development occurs as the U.S. pushes for peace talks. Russia agreed to a trilateral meeting with Ukraine and the U.S. next month. The sides also agreed to a localized ceasefire in Oleshky, a move the White House credited to First Lady Melania Trump.

Fighting continued on the front lines on Saturday. Ukrainian forces attacked a chemical plant in Tolyatti, Russia. A Russian drone struck a residential building in Kyiv's Obolon District, starting a fire in the structure.