Ukrainian drone speeds return to 400km/h after satellite link restored

Ukrainian military drones can once again travel at speeds exceeding 400 kilometers per hour, marking the end of a temporary speed limit that forced operators to slow their aircraft. Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara announced the restoration of full satellite connectivity on Saturday, noting that the change directly impacts drone operations, logistics, and communications for troops on the front lines.

The restrictions began last week when Ukrainian officials claimed that US President Donald Trump instructed Elon Musk to limit Starlink services for Ukraine. Under those limits, drones reportedly lost satellite connection when they traveled at 161 kilometers per hour or faster. Trump initially denied giving such an order but later stated that Musk had resolved the issue. The dispute occurred against a backdrop of diplomatic friction between the two leaders over Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil infrastructure.

Ukraine relies heavily on Starlink and its military counterpart, Starshield, to pilot drones and manage operations in remote battlefield areas. The network consists of 10,000 low Earth orbit satellites. While Russia is not authorized to use the system, the reliance on this technology creates a gap when Ukrainian forces launch long-range missiles or drones deep into Russian territory to target oil refineries. Musk has suggested that the Pentagon, which controls Starshield, may have been behind the recent connectivity issues.

The diplomatic row intensified with the US midterm elections scheduled for next month. Trump has waived some sanctions on Russia and agreed to a deal importing Russian diesel for the US market, a move criticized by Ukraine and its European allies. Trump argues that Ukrainian strikes on refineries have raised global fuel prices, while Kyiv maintains that these attacks are essential to cutting off Moscow’s main war revenue. Zelensky stated that the US also threatened to withdraw intelligence sharing if the strikes continued, a claim Trump denied.

Fighting on the ground continued alongside the satellite dispute. Russia’s defense ministry reported on Saturday that its air defenses shot down 616 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones. These aircraft struck several regions, including Russian-annexed Crimea. Sergey Aksyonov, the Moscow-backed governor of Crimea, said that power and water restrictions were introduced following power cuts caused by the drone strikes.

Ukrainian authorities reported that in the past 24 hours, their forces hit a missile component manufacturer, a chemical plant, and an aircraft at a military airfield inside Russia. They also stated that Russia carried out 88 air strikes on Friday, utilizing 309 glide bombs and 10,270 kamikaze drones.

The restoration of full speed capabilities allows Ukrainian operators to resume standard drone procedures without the previous velocity constraints. The network remains central to Ukraine’s defense strategy, particularly in areas where terrestrial communication lines are vulnerable or unavailable.