Starlink in Ukraine has been restored for military use, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday, announcing that connectivity to Elon Musk’s satellite network, which Ukrainian forces rely on for defense, is back online.
Zelenskyy shared the update in a post on X following a turbulent 10-day period that began when a presidential advisor said Ukrainian drones and other systems were losing access to the Starshield network.
Starshield is the defense-focused application of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite system. In contested areas of eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian military depends on Starshield connectivity to operate high-speed attack drones and interceptors.
“I thank all Americans and all our partners who took this seriously and truly helped, members of Congress, senators, all the media, the State Department, and the President,” Zelenskyy said in a video posted to X.
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, said in an X post that limits on speed or usage are set by the U.S. military and ultimately the President. He also distinguished between the commercial Starlink service and Starshield, which he said is controlled by the U.S. government.
Musk asserted on X that the Ukrainian military had violated Starlink terms of service by using it for offensive drone strikes, and said a loophole enabling that use was closed last week. The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk had ordered the slowdown, though he has said decisions on restrictions lie with U.S. authorities.
Earlier this month, after Ukraine targeted Russian oil infrastructure, both Musk and President Donald Trump criticized Zelenskyy. “Zelensky has gone too far,” Musk posted on October 10. Trump told reporters on October 19 that he did not know who ordered the slowdown, adding, “I don’t know who it was, but I’d like to find out.”
As Russia steps up efforts to pummel Kyiv ahead of what is expected to be a harsh winter in the nearly seven-year conflict, a Starlink connection has allowed Ukraine to counter some of Russia’s slower drones. Reports of throttling prompted a rare public rebuke from Zelenskyy, who has sought to keep his tone measured following a difficult Oval Office meeting last year in which Trump chastised him over U.S. aid.
In an October 14 interview with Piers Morgan on YouTube, Zelenskyy called the Starlink slowdown “a big mistake,” warning, “This decision will bring a lot of human losses.”
SpaceX and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Saturday.
Starlink in Ukraine and the Starshield distinction
SpaceX has emphasized that Starshield is a government-directed service distinct from Starlink’s commercial offering. Musk has said U.S. authorities determine operational limits, while Ukrainian officials have stressed the network’s importance to battlefield communications and drone operations.
Earlier this month, after Ukraine targeted Russian oil infrastructure, both Musk and President Donald Trump criticized Zelenskyy. “Zelensky has gone too far,” Musk posted on October 10. Trump told reporters on October 19 that he did not know who ordered the slowdown, adding, “I don’t know who it was, but I’d like to find out.”
As Russia steps up efforts to pummel Kyiv ahead of what is expected to be a harsh winter in the nearly seven-year conflict, a Starlink connection has allowed Ukraine to counter some of Russia’s slower drones. Reports of throttling prompted a rare public rebuke from Zelenskyy, who has sought to keep his tone measured following a difficult Oval Office meeting last year in which Trump chastised him over U.S. aid.
In an October 14 interview with Piers Morgan on YouTube, Zelenskyy called the Starlink slowdown “a big mistake,” warning, “This decision will bring a lot of human losses.”
SpaceX and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Saturday.