On October 23, Ukrainian drones were losing satellite communication when moving at speeds around 160 km/h. Now Starlink and Starshield once again support stable connection even at speeds above 400 km/h. After ten days of disruptions, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported a significant restoration of systems' operation.
This was stated on October 24 by Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara, reports Interfax-Ukraine.
"We are recording speeds over 400 km/h, the connection is stable," said the minister, commenting on the monitoring results.
This is not about internet speed, but about the ability of satellite equipment to maintain connection during rapid movement, for example on board an unmanned aerial vehicle.
After ten days of disruptions, connection was restored
The first reports of improved Starlink operation appeared on the morning of October 24. Sources in the Ministry of Defense told ArmiaInform that Ukrainian military recorded connection at speeds over 161 km/h.
Later, the defense minister confirmed a significantly higher figure - over 400 km/h with stable communication.
According to Khmara, the restoration of the systems' operability was the result of direct dialogue and the persistent position of the President of Ukraine at the highest level.
The minister emphasized that this is especially important for Ukrainian military, the use of drones, frontline logistics and communication.
Why restrictions were hindering Ukrainian drones
Problems with the military satellite communication service Starshield, provided by SpaceX, began to be recorded on the night of October 14.
Depending on the equipment and usage conditions, connection could drop when drones moved at speeds from 72 to 161 km/h.
This complicated the use of strike drones and high-speed interceptor drones, which require stable communication for control and data transmission during flight.
As late as October 23, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that the restrictions remained in place, despite the statement by U.S. President Donald Trump about their lifting.
At that time, the military noted only a partial improvement in the system's operation. In some tests, drones managed to maintain connection at speeds around 200 km/h, but stable communication at high speeds could not be achieved.
Now the Ministry of Defense reports significantly higher figures.
Are all Starlink restrictions lifted completely?
Despite positive results, the Ukrainian defense department continues to test the operation of Starlink and Starshield.
It is not yet known at which maximum speeds the equipment will be able to stably maintain connection under various conditions and whether all previously active technical restrictions have been eliminated.
SpaceX has also not provided a detailed public explanation of the causes of the disruptions and the technical changes that allowed the system to be restored.
Thus, the confirmed connection at speeds over 400 km/h has become a significant improvement compared to the situation of previous days. However, final conclusions about the complete lifting of restrictions will depend on further tests.
Based on materials from: Interfax-Ukraine, ArmiaInform, Suspilne.
