Ukraine says Starlink links restored after more than a week of disruption

Zelenskyy said the speeds had returned to the required level after more than a week of disruption. According to reports by PBS NewsHour, the South China Morning Post and NPR, he said restoration began overnight and was sufficient by Saturday morning. The reports present that timing and assessment as Zelenskyy’s statement rather than as an independently verified technical measurement.

The disruption had operational consequences for Ukrainian forces. Reports described effects on drone operations, frontline logistics and military activity, including efforts to defend against Russian Shahed drones. POLITICO Europe reported that Starlink and Starshield services had been restricted since the previous week, with speed limits affecting drone use and defensive strikes.

The restoration followed a period of heightened tension between Kyiv and Washington. PBS NewsHour reported that it came after a new U.S. diplomatic push to end the war, and said Ukraine’s defense minister credited direct dialogue and Zelenskyy’s diplomacy with Washington. That reporting establishes a sequence and Ukrainian attribution, but not that the diplomatic effort caused the service restoration.

Responsibility for the restrictions remains unresolved. The reports do not establish who imposed them or what technical cause produced them. ABC Australia Sport and PBS NewsHour described conflicting public positions involving SpaceX and the U.S. government, without identifying a definitive actor.

The extent of the restoration across all affected systems and locations is also not fully established. ABC Australia Sport reported that Ukraine’s defense ministry did not say whether service had been completely restored, while POLITICO Europe reported stable high-speed connections. The confirmed development is therefore a reported return to high or prior operating levels, alongside continuing uncertainty about completeness.