Ukrainian drones regain 400km/h speed after satellite limits lifted

Ukrainian military drones can once again travel at speeds exceeding 400 km/h, according to Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara. The restoration of this speed capability marks the end of several days in which the network operated under strict limitations. Khmara announced the update in a statement released on Saturday.

The speed threshold of 400 km/h serves as a benchmark for full operational capability. Khmara noted that the recovery is vital for frontline soldiers, drone operations, logistics, and general communications. The military relies heavily on the Starlink and Starshield satellite systems to pilot unmanned aircraft and coordinate strikes across the battlefield.

Ukrainian officials previously accused US President Donald Trump of ordering Elon Musk to restrict the satellite network. Under those temporary rules, drones lost their connection when moving faster than 161 km/h. Trump initially denied issuing such an instruction but later stated that Musk had resolved the issue. The military uses both the civilian Starlink service and the more secure Starshield, which Musk described as being under US military control.

The connectivity dispute arose amid a wider diplomatic tension between Washington and Kyiv. The row centered on Ukrainian strikes against Russian oil infrastructure. With midterm elections approaching in the US, Trump waived certain sanctions on Russia and agreed to import Russian diesel. European allies and Ukraine criticized that move, arguing the strikes were essential to reducing Moscow's war revenue. Trump countered that the attacks had driven up global fuel prices.

Zelensky stated that the US threatened to halt intelligence sharing if the strikes on refineries did not stop. Trump denied making that threat. The dispute occurred while Russia remained unauthorized to use the satellite network, meaning the system does not function when Ukrainian forces launch long-range attacks deep into Russian territory.

Fighting continued on the ground during the connectivity issues. The Russian defense ministry reported via Telegram on Saturday that air defenses shot down 616 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones. These drones struck several regions, including Russian-annexed Crimea. Sergey Aksyonov, the Moscow-backed governor of Crimea, said electricity and water restrictions were imposed because the strikes caused power cuts.

Ukrainian authorities reported hitting a missile component manufacturer, a chemical plant, and an aircraft at a military airfield inside Russia in the past 24 hours. They also recorded 88 Russian air strikes on Friday. Those strikes involved 309 glide bombs and 10,270 kamikaze drones.