Starlink seems to be working normally again in Ukraine

SpaceX appears to have lifted restrictions the Ukrainian military’s of use Starshield — the military-grade version of the company’s Starlink internet system.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Defense Minister Evgeniy Khmara told reporters that Starshield appears to be working normally again, although the military is still conducting tests and has not received an explanation for the restrictions.

This follows a 10-day period where Ukrainian drones would lose internet connectivity when flying at speeds of around 100 miles per hour, resulting in the military losing control of some drones, while others became more vulnerable because they were flying more slowly.

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, with Musk recently posting, “Zelensky has gone too far.”

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

“Were Starlink to be turned off, the Ukrainian front line would collapse immediately,” Musk said. “This is NOT a threat, it is simply a statement of fact.”

Buy One Pass, Get a Second Free

Cover more ground at TechCrunch’s ultimate founder bootcamp of the year by bringing your co-founder or partner for free

Book before the BOGO deal expires

Every weekday and Sunday, you can get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage.

TechCrunch Mobility is your destination for transportation news and insight.

Startups are the core of TechCrunch, so get our best coverage delivered weekly.

Provides movers and shakers with the info they need to start their day.

By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice.