Ukrainian Drones Return to 400km/h Speeds After Starlink Link Restored

Ukrainian military drones can again travel at speeds exceeding 400km/h after a period of restricted satellite connectivity ended on Saturday. Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara announced the restoration of full network capability, ending days of operational limitations for forces on the front line.

Khmara stated that the return to high speeds is vital for drone operations, logistics, and communications. He emphasized that the stability of the connection directly impacts the effectiveness of soldiers in the field. The metric of 400km/h serves as the benchmark for full capability, replacing the previous cap that forced drones to slow down to 161km/h to maintain their signal.

Kyiv relies heavily on the Starlink and Starshield networks to pilot drones and coordinate operations, particularly in remote areas of the battlefield. The military utilizes both the civilian Starlink service and the more secure Starshield variant, which is controlled by the US military. The recent disruption prevented long-range strikes from maintaining connectivity at higher velocities, forcing a tactical adjustment in how assets were deployed.

The technical limits emerged from a diplomatic dispute between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukrainian officials initially accused Trump of instructing Elon Musk to impose the speed caps. While Trump denied giving specific orders, he later acknowledged that Musk had resolved the issue. The conflict arose amidst tensions over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure and US plans to import Russian diesel ahead of midterm elections.

The restored connectivity occurs as fighting intensifies on the ground. Russia's defence ministry reported on Saturday that air defences shot down 616 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones. These strikes affected several regions, including Crimea, where local authorities introduced restrictions on electricity and water due to power cuts caused by the attacks.

Ukrainian authorities detailed their own offensive actions over the past 24 hours. They reported hitting a missile component manufacturer, a chemical plant, and an aircraft at a military airfield inside Russia. In a separate count, Kyiv said Russian forces launched 88 air strikes on Friday, deploying 309 glide bombs and 10,270 kamikaze drones against Ukrainian positions.