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SpaceX restores Starlink military service to Ukraine after 10-day restriction

Developing1 source · Oct 24, 2026

Ukraine's Defense Minister confirmed that Starshield is working normally again after restrictions that degraded drone operations.

SpaceX restores Starlink military service to Ukraine after 10-day restriction
Image via TechCrunch

What happened

SpaceX lifted restrictions on Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink, that had affected Ukrainian drone operations for 10 days. During the restriction period, Ukrainian military drones lost internet connectivity when flying at speeds around 100 miles per hour, causing loss of control on some drones and forcing others to fly slower and more vulnerably. Defense Minister Evgeniy Khmara reported the service is now working normally, though the military is still testing and has not received an explanation for the original restrictions. President Trump reportedly called SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Wednesday requesting restoration of the service. Musk had claimed Ukraine violated Starlink terms of service by using it for offensive drone strikes, stating that turning off Starlink would cause the Ukrainian front line to collapse.

Context

The restoration of Starshield access is significant for Ukrainian military capability, as the service outage directly degraded drone control and operational effectiveness during active conflict. Musk's involvement and his public criticism of Zelensky, coupled with Trump's reported intervention, raises questions about the intersection of commercial satellite infrastructure, military operations, and geopolitical tensions. The lack of explanation for the original restrictions and the timing of Trump's call create uncertainty about decision-making authority and future service reliability.

What's disputed

The sourcing does not explain why the restrictions were initially imposed or who made the decision. The WSJ previously reported Musk ordered the throttling, though some sources claimed prior discussion with the Trump administration; this account does not clarify the original authorization or reasoning. Ukraine's military has not publicly confirmed Musk's allegation that Starlink was used for offensive drone strikes.