Zelenskyy: Starlink speeds restored, Kyiv awaits unblocking of air defense deliveries

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Saturday, October 24, that operational speeds of SpaceX's Starlink and Starshield satellite networks have been restored to levels existing before restrictions were introduced. He reported this in a video address published on Telegram.

Zelenskyy stated that "Starlink and Starshield operations have been restored to the speeds that existed before all these restrictions." According to him, the restoration began overnight and by morning speeds were already sufficient for operational use, which is critically important for frontline logistics and Ukraine's defense against Shahed drones.

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov held an official briefing on Saturday morning, following which technical testing confirmed full network functionality. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to American partners, the State Department, and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Addressing broader security cooperation, Zelenskyy emphasized that Kyiv continues negotiations with Washington and European capitals on resuming deliveries of air defense interceptors to protect against Russian ballistic missiles. According to him, several critically important military aid packages for which political decisions have already been made by partners remain undelivered.

The president also announced upcoming diplomatic consultations in Europe involving American and European partners, and reported that an agreement had been reached through mediation to open an emergency humanitarian corridor for approximately 1,700 civilians located on Russia-controlled territory in Oleshky.