Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the Starlink and Starshield communication systems are fully operational again, following a request from former President Donald Trump to Elon Musk to lift restrictions on their use in Ukraine. This information was reported by the Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials.
In a video message on Saturday, Zelenskyy stated that full operational capabilities were restored overnight, with the systems achieving sufficient transmission speeds by morning. “The most important news today: Starlink and Starshield are functioning at speeds that were possible before all these restrictions were imposed. Now the speeds meet our needs,” he said.
The restoration of Starlink terminals is crucial for the Ukrainian military’s operations, especially in coordinating defense against Shahed combat drones. Zelenskyy emphasized the systems’ importance for military logistics on the frontlines, stating, “This is very important as it significantly impacts our logistics and defense against the Shahed jet drones.”
The president expressed gratitude to the United States and its partners for their commitment to resolving the issue. He thanked Americans, lawmakers, media, the U.S. State Department, and Trump for their serious attention and assistance in the matter.
Concerns regarding the Starlink terminals first arose on October 14, when connectivity issues were reported, especially at speeds exceeding 160 km/h, making it difficult to counter Russian combat drones that travel at speeds of 320-380 km/h. The reports of operational limitations followed Trump’s announcement on October 9, regarding an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the return of Russian diesel to global markets.
