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Ukraine Says Starlink Isn’t Working, Despite Trump’s Promise to Restore It
The Wall Street Journal ^ | Updated Oct. 23, 2026 11:58 am ET | Marcus Walker, Ievgeniia Sivorka and Alistair MacDonald

Posted on 10/23/2026 11:27:19 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

Soldiers and government officials say connections continued to fail if drones fly at high speeds

KYIV—The Starlink system used by Ukraine’s military was suffering from low speeds limits early on Friday, despite President Trump saying that SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk had restored the service.

Ukrainian drone units and government officials said connections with Starshield, a military-grade service using Starlink’s infrastructure, continued to fail in most of the country when drones flew faster than 161 kilometers an hour, equivalent to around 100 miles an hour.

Some units had successfully tested drones at 200 kilometers an hour on Thursday, raising hopes that normal service was being resumed after over a week of severe disruptions. U.S. and Ukrainian officials said the system appeared to be working more normally again.

But late Thursday and overnight, most of Ukraine’s military was still reporting failing connections at higher speeds, military and government officials said. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday “the speed has not been restored.”

It couldn’t be determined why drone speeds were still limited. SpaceX didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

“I’ve heard it was fixed but if it’s not I’ll speak to him,” Trump told reporters Friday, referring to Musk.

After more widespread testing proved unsuccessful late Thursday, drone pilots were still forced to fly slowly to avoid navigation problems as they approached 160 kilometers an hour, another Ukrainian official said.

“At this time, we have not observed any lifting of restrictions on Starlink,” Serhii Beskrestnov, a defense-technology adviser to Zelensky, said Friday on Telegram. “There are isolated cases where Starlink may operate slightly faster than the restrictions...


(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: mediawingofthednc; starlink; tds; wallstreeturinal

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That's a shame.
1 posted on 10/23/2026 11:27:19 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

They’re quite dependent


2 posted on 10/23/2026 11:28:38 AM PDT by stanne
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

They need to call customer support.


3 posted on 10/23/2026 11:29:25 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia (Democrats: The perfect party for the helpless and stupid, and those who would rule over them.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

So little v man and the despicable media expects President Trump to be his personal IT support now?


4 posted on 10/23/2026 11:31:09 AM PDT by V_TWIN (America....so great even the people that hate it won't leave!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

“Your call is very important to us...please continue to hold”


5 posted on 10/23/2026 11:33:21 AM PDT by montag813
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Iran could (I think) launch thousands of titanium ball-bearings into low-Earth orbit.

That would even the playing field for everybody.

I would do it if I were them. Just to be pissy.


6 posted on 10/23/2026 11:33:25 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Wouldn’t be surprised if Russia hasn’t figured out how to mess with Starlink by now. They are certainly close enough to the Ukrainian receivers relative to the birds feeding the Internet connectivity.


7 posted on 10/23/2026 11:34:13 AM PDT by mikey_hates_everything
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Have they tried turning it off and then on again?


8 posted on 10/23/2026 11:34:35 AM PDT by nitzy
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To: mikey_hates_everything

Has figured out


9 posted on 10/23/2026 11:34:42 AM PDT by mikey_hates_everything
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To: BenLurkin

Launching them from Iran wouldn’t put them in an orbit that would hurt anyone’s satellites. Well, except maybe Israel.


10 posted on 10/23/2026 11:37:43 AM PDT by Steely Tom ([Voter Fraud] == [Civil War])
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

CRY ME A RIVER!


11 posted on 10/23/2026 11:40:14 AM PDT by House Atreides (I’m now ULTRA-MAGA-PRO-MAX)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Whoops


12 posted on 10/23/2026 11:40:29 AM PDT by cowboyusa (YESHUA IS KING OF AMERICA!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Bro! All you need to do is create an orbital launch company and “boom” you’re in! Simple!


13 posted on 10/23/2026 11:46:52 AM PDT by know.your.why
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

There’s been a boatload of recent reports that Ukraine is using STARSHIELD.

Rubio and others deny they have access to it.

This is something I’d like to see resolved.

I suspect they DO have access to Starshield and have for some time, but that it was highly classified. And that Ukraine disclosed it.


14 posted on 10/23/2026 11:50:44 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: stanne

Turns out it really was a proxy war.


15 posted on 10/23/2026 11:55:13 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (The right of the Democrats to embezzle elections shall not be infringed. )
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Is it plugged in and did you turn it off and on ?


16 posted on 10/23/2026 11:56:16 AM PDT by butlerweave (Fateh)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Try rebooting. And don’t forget your TPS cover sheet. That might be the problem.


17 posted on 10/23/2026 11:59:33 AM PDT by Allegra (I hate the word “literally.” )
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Just shut it down for Ukraine military.
Starlink is not supposed to be used for war.
Starshield is for war/defence.
Let Ukraine go talk to Pete Hegseth.
18 posted on 10/23/2026 12:02:01 PM PDT by SmokingJoe
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Wahhh!!! I can’t make my illegal money transfers!!


19 posted on 10/23/2026 12:05:37 PM PDT by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

Ha. He thought no one would notice he’s three months behind in internet service payments. They did. “This isn’t a charity.”


20 posted on 10/23/2026 12:11:05 PM PDT by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls. )
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