In brief
Ukraine confirms that its military regains a stable Starlink connection, restoring full‑speed drone and communications capability after a period of restrictions. The interruption, allegedly tied to US political pressure, was lifted when Elon Musk reversed limits imposed on the satellite system. Starlink, vital for Ukraine’s remote battlefield operations, remains inaccessible to Russian forces, limiting deep‑penetration strikes. The incident reflects broader US‑Russia tensions, sanctions easing, and ongoing conflict with renewed attacks on Crimea and Kharkiv.
Ukraine says it now has a stable connection to Starlink after a brief period of limited service that may have hampered drone and command‑and‑control operations. The defence ministry, led by Yevhenii Khmara, confirmed that speeds of over 400 km/h are now possible, restoring full capability that was temporarily curtailed over the past week.
Earlier claims that former US President Donald Trump had directed Elon Musk to impose restrictions on the satellite network surfaced during diplomatic tensions with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump denied any directive, later saying Musk had reversed the limits.
Starlink, with its 10,000 low‑Earth orbit satellites, supplies Ukrainian troops with a vital communications backbone in remote battlefield areas. The service is not accessible to Russian forces, so when Ukrainian long‑range strikes target Russian oil facilities, the network does not cover those deep‑penetration missions.
The clash over connectivity comes amid broader disputes: Russia is forbidden from using Starlink, Ukraine is criticised for strikes on oil infrastructure, and the US has eased sanctions on Russia ahead of its midterm elections. Meanwhile, fighting continues, with recent reports of power cuts in Crimea following a Ukrainian drone attack and casualties in Kharkiv.
