Ukraine says its access to Starlink has stabilized after days of restricted connectivity that affected military communications and drone operations.
Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara said speeds above 400km/h were possible on the network, compared with Ukraine’s earlier claim that drones lost connection at speeds of 161km/h or more. He described the change as important for soldiers, drones, logistics and communications, according to BBC reporting.
The statement indicates that Ukraine believes the service’s operational capability has been restored, but it does not independently establish why the restrictions occurred or who imposed them. Kyiv had accused US President Donald Trump of directing SpaceX owner Elon Musk to limit access. Trump denied doing so and later said Musk had restored it, while Musk suggested the Pentagon could have been involved, the BBC reported.
The dispute has exposed Kyiv’s reliance on US-linked commercial and military satellite systems. Ukraine uses Starlink and the more secure Starshield service for operations inside the country, including drone missions, particularly in remote battlefield areas, according to the BBC.
In a parallel move, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence signed a letter of intent with Finnish firms ICEYE and Nokia to explore sovereign communications satellites. Breaking Defense reported that the proposed system would give government customers ownership and control of satellites, ground infrastructure and terminals, with a first satellite planned for launch in 2028.
That initiative is not yet a procurement commitment: ICEYE told Breaking Defense that the letter of intent does not imply an order for any system for Ukraine. The immediate change, therefore, is the Ukrainian government’s reported restoration of Starlink connectivity—not the deployment of an independent replacement network.