KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that access to Ukraine’s Starlink and StarShield satellite links has returned to previous speeds, following restrictions that disrupted frontline operations for more than a week.
“The pace is now as fast as it needs to be,” Zelensky wrote on
The recovery was preceded by renewed U.S. diplomatic efforts to end the war. Russia agreed on Wednesday to resume trilateral talks with Washington and Kiev next month. Kiev and Moscow also agreed on Friday to a partial ceasefire brokered by first lady Melania Trump around the war-torn Russian-occupied town of Oreshki in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region.
Restrictions imposed last week on Starshield, the military-grade version of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service and the backbone of Ukraine’s drone operations and communications, alarmed the country’s military and government officials, with commanders reporting missing drones and disrupted missions.
The incident heightened tensions between Kyiv and Washington, which were already strained over President Donald Trump’s reported deal with Moscow over Russian diesel imports, which Ukraine viewed as a betrayal.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevny Hemara praised the “direct dialogue” with Washington and Zelenskyy’s diplomacy, adding that the results were most important “for our front lines, troops, drones, logistics and communications work”.
Zelensky said on Friday that Ukraine still faces Starlink and StarShield speed restrictions.
Questions have lingered since last week about who ordered the disruption of a Musk-made satellite network system that Ukraine has relied on for years to counter attacks by Moscow.
Trump insisted he did not make the call and said Musk was not to blame. Vice President J.D. Vance suggested the White House would coordinate with Musk, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegers denied any government involvement.
Meanwhile, a missile attack on the city of Lozova in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region killed one man and injured two others, local officials said on Saturday.
Authorities set up by Moscow in cities across Russian-occupied Crimea reported power outages on Saturday following overnight attacks in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s General Staff said on Saturday its forces attacked a chemical plant in the Russian city of Togliatti that produces rocket fuel materials. Togliatti Mayor Ilya Sukhikh said the nighttime attacks damaged industrial facilities in the city.
Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed on Saturday that Ukrainian troops also attacked an electronics factory in the city of Orel. Local officials in Orel said on Saturday that three people were killed in Friday’s attack. The General Staff said the factory produces parts for Russian cruise and ballistic missiles launched against Ukrainian cities.
Ukrainian drones also arrived in the Omsk region of Russia’s West Siberia, more than 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) from the Ukrainian border. Omsk region governor Vitaly Khotshenko said the drone “reached the northern industrial center”.
Online retailer Ozon said on Saturday that its logistics center in Omsk was attacked by a drone but that no one was injured. Ozon is a competitor of Wildberry, and Ukraine has targeted Wildberry facilities.