Ukraine Says Starlink Restored as Musk Alleges Misuse

Ukraine said Starlink and Starshield connections had returned to speeds needed for frontline operations on October 24, after restrictions disrupted service for more than a week. SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk acknowledged that his company restricted Starlink and alleged that Ukraine’s military had used the civilian service for offensive drone strikes, a claim Ukrainian officials disputed. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said restoration began overnight and that speeds were sufficient by Saturday morning, supporting frontline logistics and defense against Russian drones. Ukraine’s Defence Ministry reported stable connections above 400 km/h. The figure describes monitored connection performance, not proof of how the networks were used in earlier operations. Musk said on X that using Starlink for offensive strikes violated its terms of service and that SpaceX had closed what he called a loophole the previous week. He distinguished Starlink, a commercial service, from Starshield, a military-grade system that he said is controlled by the U.S. government. Musk also said Starlink remains critical to Ukraine’s defense. Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov rejected the...