Zelensky Says Starlink Speeds Fully Restored, Urges Interceptor Deliveries

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday, Oct. 24, that SpaceX’s Starlink and Starshield satellite networks have had their operational speeds restored to pre-restriction levels, easing constraints that had affected counter-drone operations and front-line military logistics. In a video address published on Telegram, the Ukrainian head of state confirmed that system diagnostics conducted by military specialists verified that bandwidth and velocity capabilities have returned to required operational thresholds.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “The most important development for today: Starlink and Starshield operations have been restored to the speeds that existed prior to all these restrictions,” Zelensky stated. “The restoration began overnight, and by this morning the speeds were already sufficient for operational use. This is very important and significant for our front-line logistics and for defending Ukraine against jet-powered Shaheds.” Zelensky confirmed that Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara delivered an official briefing on Saturday morning verifying that technical testing demonstrated full network functionality. The president expressed gratitude to American partners, lawmakers, media, the US State Department, and US President Donald Trump for addressing the operational issue. Appeals for ballistic interceptor deliveries Addressing broader security cooperation with Western allies, Zelensky emphasized that Kyiv is maintaining active consultations with Washington and European partners to restore regular deliveries of surface-to-air interceptors capable of neutralizing Russian ballistic missiles. Other Topics of Interest Moscow Eyes European Security Overhaul in Talks With US Envoys Moscow aims to use upcoming Abu Dhabi talks to push maximalist demands on NATO rollbacks, frozen assets, and European security architectures. The president noted that several critical air defense aid packages, backed by existing political approvals from partner nations, remain pending delivery to Ukrainian armed forces. “We continue communicating with partners so that other levels of our cooperation with America are restored,” Zelensky said. “It is very important that deliveries of air defense interceptors – interceptors against Russian ballistics – are renewed. There are packages that we are still awaiting. These include packages from America and from European partners – packages for which political decisions have already been adopted.” The appeal follows Zelensky’s recent disclosures that Ukraine received only 24 Patriot interceptors from the US over the past three months, despite facing coordinated ballistic barrages and maintaining an estimated operational requirement of roughly 350 interceptors per month. European diplomatic coordination and Oleshky humanitarian access Zelensky disclosed that Ukrainian delegations are preparing a series of diplomatic consultations in Europe with representatives of the US president and European allies, emphasizing that European capitals must remain directly involved in all stages of prospective peace negotiations. “Europe must be involved in the diplomatic process,” Zelensky stressed. “Ukraine always involves European partners in diplomatic efforts and counts on their continuation next week.” The president also revealed that an agreement has been reached to secure humanitarian access to the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky in southern Kherson region, where an estimated 1,700 civilians have faced acute isolation, hunger, and severed medical supplies. Zelensky explained that Russian forces have heavily mined access roads leading to the left-bank enclave, creating critical survival hazards for remaining residents ahead of the winter season. “There is also an agreement regarding Oleshky. Its implementation should take place soon so that access to Oleshky is unblocked,” Zelensky said. “In the temporarily occupied part of our Kherson region, the Russians have mined roads, making the situation difficult – extremely difficult. We hope this humanitarian operation will succeed: unblocking Oleshky, providing access to deliver food and medicine, and allowing people to leave this combat zone.” Zelensky confirmed that the humanitarian framework had been under discussion across multiple institutional levels, emphasizing that Ukraine will fulfill all operational commitments and counts on the effectiveness of American diplomatic mediation to secure the corridor. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.