False reports of service recovery
The 161 kph speed cap on Ukraine’s military Starlink service remains in place, according to a Ukrainian official speaking to the Kyiv Independent on Oct. 22. I find the Wall Street Journal report from Oct. 22 to be incorrect because it claimed Starlink functionality was back to normal following a phone call between Elon Musk and Donald Trump on Oct. 21. During that call, Musk requested that Trump lift restrictions on Starshield, which is the military application of the Starlink program. While sources told the Wall Street Journal that Starlink was functioning more normally, the Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent that such claims were "all false" and that nothing has changed anywhere. This 161 kph limit restricts mid-range strikes and high-speed drone interceptions, which has been a problem since the service was disrupted without warning on Oct. 14. While some pointed fingers at a Trump-Musk alliance, no one has claimed responsibility for the speed restrictions. Ukraine works to resolve the reasons for the restriction to restore service speeds. The official noted that there are absolutely no explanations for what is happening even though this is a top-priority system.
| Starlink Speed Status | Speed Limit |
|---|---|
| Current military cap | 161 kph |
| Requested restoration | 400 kph |
Seeking 400 kph speeds
Zelensky told reporters on Oct. 22 that he is waiting for a response from Rubio as to whether Starlink communications can be restored to speeds of up to 400 kph. Rubio denied that Trump had a hand in the change on Oct. 18, stating that no one at the White House ordered anyone to slow down internet or slow down speed. Zelensky spoke with Rubio again on Oct. 20 as the Starlink disruptions persisted. Rubio promised to get back to him within 48 hours, but the official told the Kyiv Independent that definitive answers may take longer and that "maybe something will become clear by morning." I find the lack of explanation for the speed cap frustrating because the system remains a top priority. The current 161 kph speed cap limits mid-range strikes and high-speed drone interceptions, which makes the situation difficult for commanders who have struggled with the service since the sudden, unexpected disruption occurred on Oct. 14.
