Ukrainian Drones Resume 250 mph Flights After Satellite Limits Lifted

Ukrainian military drones and other fast-moving equipment have regained full access to Starlink satellite internet, allowing them to operate at speeds exceeding 250 mph. Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara announced the restoration on Saturday, confirming that monitoring systems show stable connections for objects moving at that velocity. This change ends a period of imposed speed limits that Ukrainian officials stated disrupted front-line operations for more than a week.

The issue began last week when restrictions were applied to Starshield, the military-grade version of the service provided by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Commanders reported that the limits caused lost drones and interrupted missions. The disruption created tension between Kyiv and Washington, as the satellite system has been a key tool for Ukraine to counter Russian attacks for years.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that checks confirmed both Starlink and Starshield are now running at the correct speed. He noted that the restoration began the previous night and that sufficient speeds were available by the morning. "Now the speed is what we need," Zelenskyy said. He emphasized that the fix is vital for front-line logistics and for defending against Shaheds, the Iranian-made drones that Russia launches regularly.

Khmara attributed the resolution to direct dialogue and Zelenskyy’s diplomacy with Washington. He said the restoration was most important for the military’s drone work, logistics, and communications. Zelenskyy thanked American partners for taking the situation seriously and helping to resolve the technical issue.

The resolution arrives as U.S. envoys push for a new diplomatic track to end the war. Russia agreed on Wednesday to resume three-way negotiations with the United States and Ukraine next month. Additionally, Kyiv and Moscow reached an agreement on Friday for a localized ceasefire around Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in the southern Kherson region. That truce was brokered by First Lady Melania Trump.

The satellite interruption has fueled ongoing questions about the decision-making process behind the changes. Trump has said he did not order the interruptions and has stated that Musk should not be blamed. The episode adds to existing strains in the relationship, which were recently heightened by a reported deal between Trump and Moscow on Russian diesel imports.

Ukrainian officials view the return of full speeds as a practical correction to a technical problem that had a direct impact on combat effectiveness. The restoration allows military units to use the satellite network as intended without the previous constraints on data transmission speeds.