Ukraine reports satellite links restored as Musk alleges Starlink misuse

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that Starlink and Starshield satellite links had returned to their previous speeds after restrictions disrupted frontline operations for more than a week. He said the recovery had improved logistics and defence against Russian drones.

The restrictions had practical consequences. Associated Press reported that commanders described lost drones and disrupted missions, while Dutch broadcaster NOS said attack, defensive and supply drones had been forced to slow down. The reports describe serious disruption, not a complete loss of satellite connectivity.

After Ukraine announced the restoration, Elon Musk said his company SpaceX had throttled commercial Starlink. He accused Ukrainian troops of breaching its terms by using the service for offensive drone strikes to kill people, and said a route for doing so had been closed the previous week. Musk said the separate military service, Starshield, was controlled by the US government.

Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine’s president on defence technology, disputed the accusation as it relates to medium- and long-range strikes. Interfax-Ukraine quoted him saying commercial Starlink terminals in Ukraine had a movement-speed limit of 70–90 km/h and that Starlink did not work over Russia. His explanation does not address every possible offensive drone strike. The agency also quoted Ukrainian volunteer Serhii Sternenko, who said drone operations requiring satellite links could take place only through Starshield.

Which service was used in any operation Musk was referring to, and who decided on the separate restrictions affecting Starlink and Starshield, remain unresolved.