Ukraine has announced that SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet system and its military version, Starshield, are operating at normal high speeds again after more than a week of restrictions that reportedly disrupted military operations and increased tensions with the United States.

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The Ukrainian announcement came on Saturday, October 24, 2026. The reported restoration offers relief to Ukrainian forces that rely on satellite connectivity for communications and other military activities.

Starlink, operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has played an important role in Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. The system provides internet access in areas where conventional communications infrastructure has been damaged or is unavailable. Starshield is a related satellite service designed for government and defence applications.

The restrictions reportedly affected military operations for over a week. However, neither Musk nor the US government has publicly accepted responsibility for the disruption. Both have reportedly indicated that any decision to impose such restrictions could have been made by the other.

The episode comes amid heightened tensions over Washington’s policy toward the war and its relationship with Kyiv. According to the report, the problems with the satellite systems emerged after US President Donald Trump announced a deal to purchase Russian diesel while pressing Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries.

The sequence of events has raised questions about the influence of satellite technology and private companies on modern warfare, particularly when military communications depend on commercial services.

Although Ukraine says the systems are now operating at high speeds, questions remain about the circumstances behind the restrictions and who was responsible for them. Neither SpaceX nor the US government has publicly confirmed responsibility in the supplied report.

The restoration may ease immediate connectivity concerns, but the episode highlights Ukraine’s continued reliance on satellite infrastructure during the conflict.