Starlink seems to be working normally again in Ukraine

Key points

• SpaceX appears to have restored normal Starshield service for Ukraine's military after a 10-day period of restrictions.
• Ukraine's defense minister said Starshield seems to be working normally again but tests continue and no explanation for the restrictions has been received.
• President Donald Trump reportedly called Elon Musk on Wednesday asking him to restore Starshield service.

SpaceX appears to have lifted restrictions on the Ukrainian military's use of Starshield, the military-grade version of its Starlink internet system, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Defense Minister Evgeniy Khmara told reporters that Starshield seems to be working normally again, though the military is still running tests and has not received an explanation for the restrictions.

Drone connectivity problems

The change follows a 10-day period in which Ukrainian drones lost internet connectivity when flying at around 100 miles per hour. As a result, the military lost control of some drones, while others became more vulnerable because they were flying more slowly.

Were Starlink to be turned off, the Ukrainian front line would collapse immediately

— Elon Musk

Trump call and Musk comments

President Donald Trump reportedly called SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Wednesday and asked him to restore Starshield service. Both Trump and Musk have criticized Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Musk recently posted that "Zelensky has gone too far."

The WSJ previously reported that Musk ordered SpaceX to throttle Ukraine's Starlink access, though some sources said he had discussed it with the Trump administration first. Musk said in a post on X that Ukraine had "violated Starlink terms of service and used it for offensive drone strikes to kill people."