250 mph: Ukraine confirms full satellite speeds restored for drones

Ukraine regained full satellite internet speeds for its military drones on Saturday. Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara confirmed that monitoring systems now show stable connections on objects moving faster than 250 mph. This ends a period of restricted bandwidth that Ukrainian officials say disrupted operations for more than a week.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that checks confirmed both Starlink and Starshield were running at the correct speed. He noted that the restoration began the previous night, with sufficient speeds available by morning. Zelenskyy said the fix is critical for front-line logistics and for protecting Ukraine from reactive Iranian-made Shahed drones launched by Russia.

Ukrainian commanders reported lost drones and disrupted missions during the week of restrictions. The limits applied to Starshield, the military-grade version of the service built by SpaceX. The restoration resolves a technical bottleneck that had alarmed military and government officials in Kyiv.

The resolution arrives as U.S. envoys push for a new diplomatic path to end the war. Russia agreed on Wednesday to resume three-way negotiations with Washington and Kyiv next month. On Friday, Kyiv and Moscow also agreed to a localized ceasefire around Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in Ukraine's southern Kherson region. First Lady Melania Trump brokered that truce.

The satellite issue has added friction to the relationship between Kyiv and Washington. Tensions were already high following a reported deal between President Donald Trump and Moscow on Russian diesel imports. Ukraine viewed that trade agreement as a betrayal. Khmara credited direct dialogue and Zelenskyy's diplomacy with Washington for the successful outcome.

Khmara said the restoration matters most for the military work of drones, logistics, and communications. Zelenskyy thanked American partners for taking the issue seriously. Questions remain over who ordered the interruptions to the system. Trump has maintained he did not make the call and said Elon Musk should not be blamed.

The service interruption lasted more than a week. It affected fast-moving equipment and drones. The return to full speed allows Ukrainian forces to resume standard operational tempo at the front.