Satellite Links Back On for Ukraine's Fastest Drones

Ukrainian drone crews can once again steer craft through satellite links after restrictions on military Starlink access were lifted on October 24. Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara said the disruption, which lasted more than a week, had cut into operations against Russian forces.

Khmara said Starlink and Starshield connections held steady on equipment traveling faster than 400 kilometers per hour, or 250 miles per hour. He pointed to talks with Washington and the diplomacy of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the outcome.

Who ordered the restrictions remains unknown. US President Donald Trump has denied playing a role while defending SpaceX founder Elon Musk. Ukraine leans on SpaceX satellite services to run communications and drone missions.

The episode arrived amid friction between Kyiv and Washington. Trump earlier in October called for Ukraine to install a new president, and on October 20 suggested someone other than Zelenskyy should handle negotiations for Kyiv. The two leaders last clashed publicly at the White House in February 2025. Tensions had already run high over Trump's deal to pause sanctions on Russian diesel and let US imports proceed.

The service restoration lands as US mediators try to restart talks between Moscow and Kyiv. Delegations from Ukraine, Russia and the US are due to meet in Abu Dhabi in the first half of November, more than four and a half years after Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the plan on October 23, and Zelenskyy said technical-level meetings were agreed.

Fighting pushed on through the same period. Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported a Russian missile hit in Lozova on October 24 killed a man and wounded two. Chernihiv authorities said an October 23 attack killed one and wounded at least 25. In Kramatorsk, shelling killed one and wounded six including three children, while Sloviansk Mayor Vadym Lyakh said a 62-year-old woman died and four were hurt in October 23 attacks there.

Russia's Defence Ministry said its air defences shot down a SCALP cruise missile, four Neptune missiles and 1,297 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones in 24 hours, according to TASS. The figures were not independently confirmed.