US President Donald Trump has said Elon Musk has restored Ukraine’s access to Starlink internet services after restrictions disrupted the connectivity used by Kyiv’s military.However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the speed of the military’s satellite internet connection had not yet returned to normal, suggesting that the restoration was still incomplete.Trump’s comments came amid reports that he had personally contacted Musk, the owner of SpaceX, which operates Starlink, and asked him to lift the restrictions. Trump declined to confirm whether such a conversation had taken place but said, “Bottom line, he put it back.”The Trump administration has previously denied ordering any restrictions on Ukraine’s access to the service.
Why Starlink matters to Ukraine’s military
Ukraine depends heavily on Starlink for communications between military units, coordinating operations and receiving early warnings during Russian missile attacks.The satellite-based network also supports the use of drones, which Ukraine deploys both to strike Russian targets and to defend against incoming attacks. Disruptions to connectivity can therefore affect the military’s ability to operate drones and respond to Russian assaults.The service at the centre of the dispute includes Starshield, a military-grade network provided through Musk’s Starlink system. Ukraine uses Starshield for some military operations.Musk said last week that the US government ultimately controls access to Starshield, which was designed for the Pentagon. His remarks raised questions about whether Washington had played a role in the restrictions. The White House has repeatedly denied instructing Musk’s company to limit access.
Zelenskyy says connection speed remains below normal
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Zelenskyy said the speed of the system used by Ukraine’s military had not been fully restored.“The speed has not been restored to 400 [km/h; 250mph] yet,” he said, adding, “We are working on it.”He also said he was awaiting information from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “I am waiting to hear from US Secretary of State [Marco] Rubio. He promised to get back to me with information within 48 hours or so.”The Ukrainian president spoke shortly before The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had called Musk to ask him to remove the restrictions. According to the newspaper, Trump was frustrated that Starlink speeds remained capped at around 160km/h.The report said the limits had reduced the effectiveness of Ukrainian offensive drones and interceptors against Russian attacks. Starlink appeared to be operating more normally on Thursday, shortly after the reported conversation between Trump and Musk.BBC News said it had not independently confirmed The Wall Street Journal’s account and had contacted the White House and SpaceX for an explanation.
Dispute comes amid wider pressure on Kyiv
The connectivity dispute comes as Trump increases pressure on Ukraine over its attacks on Russian oil refineries. The US president has argued that these strikes have contributed to rising oil prices.The administration has also waived some sanctions on Russia and agreed to a deal to import Russian diesel into the US market. These moves have drawn criticism from Ukraine and its European allies.Ukraine had reported an interruption to US intelligence sharing on 14 October, adding to concerns about the support available to its armed forces.The latest developments highlight how access to satellite communications and intelligence can affect Ukraine’s ability to sustain military operations as the war with Russia continues.
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