Conflicting accounts over restoration of Starlink speeds in Ukraine

Trump says service is back; Ukrainian official insists 161 kph speed cap remains

By LineZotpaper

Published22 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources2 outlets

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Elon Musk has restored Ukraine's access to the Starlink satellite internet system, but a Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent that the military-grade service remains capped at 161 kilometres per hour, severely limiting drone operations. The contradictory accounts deepen confusion over who imposed the restrictions and whether they have been lifted.

Speaking to reporters on October 22, Trump said that "bottom line, he put it back" when asked about the Starlink service, which was disrupted on October 14. He declined to confirm a Wall Street Journal report that he had phoned Musk on October 21 to request the restrictions be lifted, saying, "I don't want to comment on it, whether I called, or whether somebody else called, it doesn't make a difference."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier told a press conference that the speed had still not been restored to 400 km/h, and that he was waiting to hear from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had promised to respond within 48 hours. Zelensky said the system had not been restored to its previous capability and that "we are working on it."

A Ukrainian official speaking to the Kyiv Independent went further, calling claims of restoration "all false" and stating that "overall, nothing has changed anywhere." The 161 km/h speed cap remains in place, the official said, affecting mid-range strikes and high-speed drone interceptions.

The Wall Street Journal reported that after Trump's call to Musk, the system was working more normally on October 22. The BBC has not confirmed that report and has contacted the White House and SpaceX for comment.

The restrictions on Starlink, which Ukraine uses for battlefield communications, drone operations and early warning systems, came as Trump pressed Zelensky to stop attacking Russian oil refineries. The Trump administration has waived some sanctions on Russia and agreed to import Russian diesel, drawing criticism from Ukraine and European allies. Both the White House and SpaceX have denied ordering the slowdown. Musk suggested last week that the U.S. government controls access to Starshield, the military-grade version used by Ukraine.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Ukraine's military relies on Starlink for communications, drone guidance and missile alerts; a speed cap directly affects its ability to conduct operations and defend against Russian attacks.
The dispute highlights the vulnerability of a sovereign nation's military infrastructure to a private company and to political pressure from an allied government.
The lack of clarity over who imposed or lifted the restrictions could erode trust between Kyiv and Washington at a critical juncture in the war.

Background

Starlink, owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX, has been a crucial component of Ukraine's battlefield connectivity since early in the war. Ukraine uses both commercial Starlink terminals and a military-grade service called Starshield. On October 14, Ukraine reported an interruption to U.S. intelligence sharing and Starlink speeds were capped without explanation. Musk said the Pentagon ultimately controls access to Starshield, while the White House denied ordering any restrictions. The dispute coincides with U.S. pressure on Ukraine to cease strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, which the Trump administration says has driven up global fuel prices ahead of U.S. midterm elections.

Key Perspectives

Ukraine: President Zelensky and military officials say the speed cap remains in place, limiting their ability to operate drones and intercept Russian attacks. They are seeking a clear explanation and full restoration of service. U.S. Government & SpaceX: President Trump claims the service has been restored. The White House and SpaceX had earlier denied responsibility for the restrictions. Musk suggested the Pentagon controls access, leaving the chain of command unclear. Critics/Skeptics: Analysts and Ukrainian officials note the contradiction between Trump's assertion and Ukraine's lived experience. The lack of a clear explanation for the original slowdown raises concerns about ad hoc decision-making in critical military infrastructure.

What to Watch

Whether Ukraine reports full restoration of Starlink speeds to 400 km/h in the coming days.
Secretary of State Rubio's promised follow-up with Zelensky within 48 hours, which could clarify U.S. policy.
Further reporting on who made the decision to cap Starlink speeds, as both SpaceX and the White House deny responsibility.

Sources

Kyiv denies reports that Trump, Musk have restored Starlink speeds in Ukraine · Kyiv Independent
Trump says Musk has restored Ukraine's access after Starlink row · BBC News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 11 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe headline says accounts conflict over whether Starlink service was restored.Kyiv Independent: “Following the call, sources reportedly told the outlet that Starlink was functioning more normally — though some Ukrainian officials said it wasn't fully restored. But when asked about these claims, a Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent they were "all false."”
SupportedTrump said Musk had restored Ukraine's access to Starlink.BBC News: “Elon Musk has restored Ukraine's internet access, Donald Trump has said.”
SupportedA Ukrainian official said the military Starlink service remained capped at 161 kph.Kyiv Independent: “Ukraine's military Starlink service is still operating at a speed cap of 161 kilometers per hour, a Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent on Oct. 22.”
SupportedTrump said, “bottom line, he put it back.”BBC News: “Bottom line, he put it back.”
SupportedTrump declined to say whether he called Musk, saying, “I don't want to comment on it, whether I called, or whether somebody else called, it doesn't make a difference.”Kyiv Independent: “"Yeah, I don't want to comment on it, whether I called, or whether somebody else called, it doesn't make a difference," Trump told a journalist when questioned about the WSJ story.”
SupportedThe Wall Street Journal reported that Trump called Musk on October 21 to ask him to lift restrictions.Kyiv Independent: “Trump called Musk on Oct. 21 to request he lift restrictions on Ukraine's Starshield service, the military application of the Starlink program, according to the WSJ.”
SupportedZelensky said the system's speed had not yet been restored to 400 km/h.BBC News: “he said the speed "has not been restored to 400 [km/h; 250mph] yet"”
SupportedZelensky said, “we are working on it.”BBC News: “adding: "We are working on it."”
SupportedZelensky said Rubio had promised to respond within 48 hours.Kyiv Independent: “Rubio promised to get back with him within 48 hours, Zelensky said, but definitive answers may take longer.”
SupportedThe Ukrainian official called claims of restoration “all false.”Kyiv Independent: “a Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent they were "all false."”
SupportedThe Ukrainian official said, “overall, nothing has changed anywhere.”Kyiv Independent: “"Overall, nothing has changed anywhere," the official said.”
Partly supportedBoth the White House and SpaceX denied ordering the slowdown.BBC News: “The White House has repeatedly said it did not order access to be restricted.”