Ukrainian drones regain 250 mph speeds as Starlink limits end

Ukrainian military units flying drones above 250 miles per hour are once again connected to the Starlink satellite network. Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara announced on Saturday that the speed restrictions imposed last week have been lifted. This change restores full communication capabilities for fast-moving equipment at the front lines.

Khmara stated that ministry monitoring systems now show stable links for objects exceeding that 250 mph threshold. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that checks verified both the commercial Starlink service and the military-grade Starshield system are operating at correct speeds. Zelenskyy noted that the restoration began the previous night and was functional by morning.

"Now the speed is what we need," Zelenskyy said. "The restoration began last night, and in the morning there were already speeds sufficient to use this connection. This is very important." He explained that reliable high-speed data is essential for front-line logistics and for tracking Iranian-made Shahed drones launched by Russia.

The one-week pause in full-speed connectivity caused operational strain for Ukrainian commanders. Officials reported lost drones and disrupted missions during the period when the satellite internet system built by Elon Musk's company was throttled. The interruption raised questions about who authorized the change, a point of contention between Kyiv and Washington.

This technical fix arrives as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict accelerate. Russia agreed on Wednesday to resume three-way talks with the United States and Ukraine next month. Additionally, Kyiv and Moscow reached a localized ceasefire agreement around Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in Kherson region, on Friday. First lady Melania Trump brokered that truce.

Khmara attributed the resolution to direct dialogue and Zelenskyy's diplomatic efforts with the White House. He emphasized the importance of the fix for military work, drone operations, and communications. Zelenskyy thanked American partners for taking the issue seriously and providing assistance.

President Donald Trump has stated he did not order the satellite interruptions and said Musk should not be blamed. The episode added to existing tensions between the two allies, a relationship already strained by a reported Trump deal with Moscow on Russian diesel imports that Ukraine viewed as a betrayal.