SpaceX restores Starlink service for fast-moving terminals in Ukraine
SpaceX has restored Starlink terminal service in Ukraine at speeds of up to 160 km/h, according to former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Elon Musk said the limits on Starshield are set by the U.S. military.
SpaceX, the American space company, restored service in Ukraine on the evening of October 14 for Starlink satellite terminals moving at high speeds, former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said on social media. The issue matters for Ukraine's armed forces because Starshield, the military version of Starlink, is needed to launch drones on the front line.
Fedorov wrote that connectivity at speeds of up to 160 km/h is being restored, and said that removing the Starshield speed limit entirely is now critical for Ukraine's defense. He thanked SpaceX head Elon Musk and expressed hope for continued support.
Musk: decisions rest with the U.S. government
In reply, Musk said Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government. He said any limits on speed or usage are decided by the U.S. military and ultimately the U.S. president. Musk also stated that Starlink is a commercial service whose use is limited to civilian or defensive activities.
Ukraine's Defense Ministry told journalists that SpaceX still imposes a speed limit of 161 kilometers per hour on the terminals. At the same time, officials noted that connection quality at speeds of up to 160 km/h is currently improved.
What happened earlier
On the morning of October 14, Ukrainian military personnel and officials reported that SpaceX had restricted service without warning for Starlink terminals used by Ukraine's armed forces on the front lines. Some compared the damage caused by the Starlink slowdown to a nuclear strike on Ukraine.
The restrictions on Starshield came amid a crisis in relations between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.
