Ukraine Regains 250 mph Satellite Speeds for Drones

Ukraine has restored full-speed satellite internet connections for its military assets, ending a week of restrictions that impeded drone operations and logistics. Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara announced on Saturday that the Defense Ministry’s monitoring systems now show stable links for objects moving faster than 250 mph. The return to full capacity resolves speed limits that Ukrainian officials said disrupted activity at the front for over seven days.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that technical checks verified both the commercial Starlink service and the military-grade Starshield network are operating at correct speeds. Zelenskyy stated that the restoration began the previous night, with sufficient speeds available by morning. He described the fix as vital for front-line logistics and for defending against reactive Shahed drones, which are Iranian-made aircraft that Russia launches regularly.

The speed restrictions took effect last week and caused immediate concern among military and government leadership. Commanders reported losing drones and seeing missions fail during the period of limited bandwidth. The episode intensified existing tensions between Kyiv and Washington, a relationship already strained by a reported agreement between President Donald Trump and Moscow regarding Russian diesel imports, which Ukraine viewed as a betrayal.

The technical fix arrives as diplomatic efforts to end the war accelerate. Russia agreed on Wednesday to resume three-way negotiations with the United States and Ukraine next month. On Friday, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to a localized ceasefire around Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region. First Lady Melania Trump brokered that truce.

Khmara attributed the resolution to direct dialogue and Zelenskyy’s diplomacy with Washington. He emphasized that the restored service is critical for the front, specifically for the work of drones, logistics, and communications. Zelenskyy thanked American officials and other partners for taking the issue seriously and providing assistance.

Unresolved questions remain about who ordered the initial interruptions to the satellite system built by Elon Musk’s company. Ukraine has relied on this infrastructure for years to counter Russian attacks. Trump has maintained that he did not make the call to limit speeds, while also stating that Musk should not be blamed for the disruption.

The next scheduled step in the diplomatic process is the resumption of three-way negotiations, which Russia agreed to host next month. This meeting follows the recent ceasefire agreement in Kherson region and the restoration of the satellite links that Ukrainian forces depend on for real-time coordination.