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Starlink Speeds Return After Ukraine Drone Throttle

By Drooid · Oct 27, 2026, 4:19 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Musk: Starlink throttled

Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO, said Starlink service was throttled in Ukraine due to its use for offensive drone strikes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Starlink and Starshield speeds returned to normal after the slowdown.
President Donald Trump said he discussed easing Starlink restrictions with Musk and denied ordering the slowdown.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters he was unaware of any White House decision on Starlink.

Summary

Trump: Oleshky Ceasefire

Russia agreed to resume three-way peace talks with the United States and Ukraine next month.
First Lady Melania Trump brokered a localized ceasefire around Oleshky between Kyiv and Moscow.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched about 2,300 drones in a week, urging faster interceptor deliveries.
Russian forces claimed to have hit a cargo vessel bound for Chornomorsk, alleging it supplied Ukrainian troops.

History

Historical Context

The United States launched its first armed MQ-1 Predator strike on 7 October 2001, using satellite links to guide Hellfire missiles after the program was built by General Atomics and run by the CIA. Predators could loiter up to 14 hours, establishing a precedent for drone reliance on communications satellites. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy now alleges Starlink throttles the bandwidth that powers Ukrainian drones, echoing those early satellite-dependency concerns.

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Musk: Starlink throttled

Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO, said Starlink service was throttled in Ukraine due to its use for offensive drone strikes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Starlink and Starshield speeds returned to normal after the slowdown.
President Donald Trump said he discussed easing Starlink restrictions with Musk and denied ordering the slowdown.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters he was unaware of any White House decision on Starlink.

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