Ukraine Regains Full 400 km/h Satellite Speeds

Ukrainian military units operating above 161 kilometers per hour can now maintain stable satellite connections, restoring full capability to drone interceptors and fast-moving equipment. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Telegram on October 24 that the Starshield system has returned to its previous operational speed.

The restoration ends a nearly two-week period during which satellite links dropped at high velocities. Defense Minister Yevheniy Khmara told RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service that monitoring data confirmed the fix, noting that equipment now holds connectivity at speeds up to 400 kilometers per hour. A Ukrainian official stated the day before that links were failing at 161 kilometers per hour, a limit that sharply restricted defensive operations.

Zelenskyy described the change as vital for frontline logistics and for countering jet-powered Shahed drones. He said the speed is now "where we need it to be." Khmara attributed the resolution to direct dialogue and the president’s persistent stance in negotiations.

The origin of the speed restrictions remains unconfirmed. Serhiy Beskrestnov, a defense technology adviser to Zelenskyy, suggested a connection to recent tensions between Kyiv and Washington, though no formal link has been established. The Trump administration denies that the president or any US government official requested the changes.

Elon Musk, whose company SpaceX develops Starshield, has stated that the US government controls the military-focused service. Decisions on speed and usage are made by the US military and ultimately by President Donald Trump. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that Trump called Musk to urge him to lift the restrictions, after which communications reliability improved.

When asked about the report, Trump declined to offer a detailed explanation. He said, "if there is a problem, I will get it straightened out." Lawmakers from both parties in Congress are demanding answers on who authorized the slowdown and seek guarantees for reliable access for Ukraine.

The initial reports of limited access emerged amid concerns over other US policy moves. In the past two weeks, Trump announced a deal encouraging Russian diesel exports and waived sanctions set to take effect under a law he signed last month. He also urged Kyiv to pause strikes on Russian oil refineries, citing high diesel prices and reduced Middle East energy flows due to the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Zelenskyy initially considered a pause in refinery attacks but declared Kyiv "done" with unilateral stops after Putin ordered continued strikes on Ukraine. Fighting persisted overnight, with Ukraine’s air defense forces shooting down 100 of 130 Russian drones. Attacks on 15 locations killed at least two people.

Ukraine’s General Staff reported hits on two industrial facilities and a military airport in Russia. The site in Oryol, approximately 350 kilometers southwest of Moscow, produces components for cruise and ballistic missiles. The facility in Togliatti in the Samara region manufactures rubber products used in solid rocket fuel.

Most of Russia-occupied Crimea lost electricity in the early hours of October 24. The outage affected Simferopol, Sevastopol, Yalta, Kerch, and Feodosia. NetBlocks recorded an almost complete loss of internet connectivity. Russian-installed authorities reported that mobile service reached only 40 percent of the area. Public electric transport was suspended in Sevastopol, and water supply arrived sporadically at low pressure.

Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-appointed head of the occupation administration, blamed the power loss on a disruption to main lines outside Crimea caused by a drone attack. Ukrainian monitoring channels reported a fire at the Taman electrical substation in Russia’s Krasnodar region, which supplies power to Crimea via the Kerch Strait. Ukraine has not commented, and the cause has not been independently confirmed.