President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Saturday that satellite connectivity for Starlink and Starshield has returned to normal levels. These speeds had been restricted for over a week,hindering front-line operations and drone logistics, according to the Associated Press.
The week-long disruption of Starshield's military-grade links
The restoration of Starshield—the military-grade version of SpaceX's satellite service—is critical for Ukraine's drone-led defense. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted on X that the recovery of these speeds, which was completed by Saturday morning, is essential for countering Russian jet-powered Shahed drones.
According to the Associated Press,the restrictions caused significant alarm among Ukrainian military commanders, who reported the loss of drones and the failure of criticl missions during the outage. Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara emphasized that the restoration of these links is the most vital outcome for the military's logistics and communications.
Who ordered the restrictions on Elon Musk's satellites?
A central mystery remains regarding who actually atuhorized the speed limits on the Elon Musk-owned network.. While U.S. President Donald Trump has denied making the call and defended Musk,Vice-President JD Vance has suggested there was coordination between the White House and the SpaceX CEO.
This contradiction is further complicated by the denials of Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, both of whom have rejected claims of administration involvement. the lack of a clear answer leaves a gap in understanding whether the disruption was a technical glitch, a corporate decision by Elon Musk, or a deliberate diplomatic lever used by the Trump administration.
Melania Trump's ceasefire in Oleshky and the push for three-way talks
The restoration of satellite speeds coincides with a broader diplomatic shift, including a localized ceasefire around the town of Oleshky in the Kherson region. As reported by the Associated Press, this specific truce was brokered by First Lady Melania Trump.
This move comes as Russia agreed on Wednesday to participate in three-way negotiations with Washington and Kyiv scheduled for next month. However, the diplomatic atmosphere remains tense; Ukraine has viewed President Donald Trump's reported deal with Moscow regarding Russian diesel imports as a betrayal of their strategic partnership.
Ukrainian strikes from Tolyatti to the Omsk region
Despite the diplomatic overtures, Ukraine continues to target Russian industrial infrastructure.. The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed on Saturday that forces hit a chemical plant in Tolyatti, which produces rocket fuel materials, as well as an electronics plant in Oryol that manufactures cruise and ballistic missile components.
Local officials in Oryol reported that three people were killed in the Friday attack. Meanwhile, in the Kharkiv region, a missile strike on the city of Lozova left one person dead and two others wounded, highlighting the ongoing volatility of the front lines.
The 2,000-kilometre reach into Siberian logistics
Ukraine has expanded its aerial campaign deep into Russian territory, with drones reaching the Omsk region in western Siberia. This operation marks a significant distance of more than 2,000 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.
Omsk regional Governor Vitaly Khotsenko and the online retailer Ozon confirmed that a drone attacked an Ozon logistics center in a northern industrial hub. This strike follows a pattern of targeting Russian commercial logistics, similar to previous attacks on the retailer Wildberries,aimed at disrupting the Russian domestic economy.
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