Ukraine says Starlink is back to normal after disruptions
Ukraine said Saturday that the Starlink satellite system and the military's Starshield were back to high operating speeds after more than a week of disruptions.
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system → say → disruptions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X that the restoration began overnight.
"The most important thing today is that Starlink and Starshield operations have been restored to the speeds we had before the restrictions," Zelenskyy said.
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Zelenskyy → say → restrictions
"The speeds are now where they need to be."
The Starlink network has been critical for Ukraine in its defense to Russia's full-scale war.
Ukraine uses Starlink for drone operations, logistics such as delivering food and water to soldiers, and frontline communications.
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Ukraine → need → soldiers
Zelenskyy said the satellite service also helps defend Ukraine from Iranian-made Shahed drones used by Russia.
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service → say → Russia
Trump Administration and Musk deny blame
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Administration → deny → blame
The U.S. and Ukraine had been at odds over who to blame for the more than week-long disruptions to Elon Musk's SpaceX operated satellite technology.
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U.S. → blame → technology
Zelenskyy told NBC's Meet the Press Sunday that Ukrainian officials believed the U.S. government was behind the disruptions and restrictions to Starlink and Starshield.
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government → tell → Starlink
He said SpaceX put the restrictions in response to a "message from [the] American government."
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SpaceX → say → government
In an Oct. 14 post on X, Musk stated that Starshield is owned and controlled by the U.S. government.
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Starshield → state → government
"Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS," he said.
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he → decide → military
The Trump Administration has denied interfering with Ukraine's Starshield access.
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Administration → deny → access
Speaking to reporters Friday, President Trump declined to answer a question regarding who ordered the restrictions.
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who → speak → restrictions
"I wouldn't tell you if I did know," Trump said.
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Trump → tell → you
Trump also defended Musk, dismissing concerns that the SpaceX CEO played a role in the limitations.
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CEO → defend → limitations
"Elon will never do anything wrong," Trump said.
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Trump → do → anything
"I know him very well.
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I → know → him
Ukraine's Defense Ministry said Saturday its monitoring systems were officially recording the restoration of Starlink and Starshield operating speed.
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systems → say → speed
It said connectivity remained stable at speeds of more than 250 mph.
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connectivity → say → mph
The restrictions had capped the speed at about 100 mph.
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restrictions → cap → mph
This hindered Ukraine's ability to intercept drones and disrupted missions.
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This → hinder → missions
Ukraine Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara said the restoration is the result of "direct dialogue" by Zelenskyy.
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restoration → say → Zelenskyy
"This result is important, above all, for our front line, for service members, for drone operations, logistics, and communications," Khamara said.
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Khamara → say → operations
In his post about the restoration, Zelenskyy thanked "all Americans" including members of Congress, the State Department and President Trump.
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Zelenskyy → thank → Congress
The restoration comes as there is a renewed push for peace talks led by the U.S.
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restoration → come → U.S.
Russia has agreed to a trilateral meeting with Ukraine and the U.S. next month.
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Russia → agree → Ukraine
Russia and Ukraine also agreed to a localized ceasefire in the Russian occupied city of Oleshky in southern Ukraine.
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Russia → agree → Ukraine
The White House said the ceasefire was brokered by First Lady Melania Trump, with an agreement for humanitarian aid and civilian evacuation as there is a growing food crisis in the city.
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ceasefire → say → city
But Ukraine and Russia still continue to trade attacks elsewhere.
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Ukraine → continue → attacks
Ukraine attacked a chemical plant in the Russian city of Tolyatti on Saturday.
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Ukraine → attack → Saturday
A Russian drone struck a residential building in Kyiv's Obolon District Saturday causing a fire.
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drone → strike → fire