Trump says Starlink access restored in Ukraine

Former US President Donald Trump announced that American billionaire Elon Musk has restored access to the Starlink satellite internet network in Ukraine, amid conflicting reports about the system’s speed and restrictions during ongoing battles.

Ukraine relies on both the civilian Starlink service and its more secure counterpart, Starshield, for military and field communications, depending on operational needs, according to the BBC.

These networks use a vast constellation of 10,000 satellites in low Earth orbit to provide connectivity, especially in remote areas and battlefields, as modern warfare increasingly depends on high-speed internet to operate drones effectively.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a press conference on Thursday that "the system speed used by the Ukrainian military has not yet been fully restored."

He added that "the speed has not returned to 400 kilometers per hour (250 miles per hour)," noting, "We are working on it. I am awaiting communication with US Senator Marco Rubio, who promised to get back to me with information within about 48 hours."