SpaceX restores Ukraine satellite speeds

Elon Musk acknowledged on Saturday that SpaceX deliberately reduced the speed of Starlink satellite internet in Ukraine. The admission followed a statement from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirming that service levels had returned to normal after a week-long restriction.

Zelenskyy said the slowdown hindered military logistics and defense against Russian drones for more than seven days. He noted that speeds were restored overnight and were fully functional by Saturday morning. The Ukrainian leader credited direct dialogue with Washington for resolving the issue quickly.

Musk justified the bandwidth cut by arguing that Starlink is a civilian commercial service. He stated that the system was not designed for offensive drone strikes to kill people. According to Musk, the Ukrainian military violated the terms of service by using the network for such attacks, a loophole that was closed during the restriction period.

The company also manages Starshield, a military-grade version of the satellite system. Musk maintained that the U.S. government retains control over changes to this specific service. Ukrainian officials had expressed alarm over the Starshield restrictions, with commanders reporting lost drones and disrupted missions during the slowdown.

The restoration occurred as the United States pushed for diplomatic progress to end the war. Russia agreed on Wednesday to resume three-way talks with the U.S. and Ukraine next month. Additionally, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to a localized ceasefire around Oleshky in the Kherson region, a truce brokered by First Lady Melania Trump.

White House officials offered mixed accounts of their involvement. President Donald Trump said he did not make the call to cut speeds but argued that Musk should not be blamed. Vice-President JD Vance hinted at coordination between the White House and Musk, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth denied any administration role in the decision.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara emphasized the importance of the outcome for the front line. He said the resolution was critical for military work, drone operations, logistics, and communications. The episode added to existing strain between Kyiv and Washington, which had recently been tested by a reported U.S. deal on Russian diesel imports.