Trump says Musk has restored access to Ukraine's Starlink network
Conflicting reports persist regarding the status of Ukraine's Starlink and Starshield satellite networks. While Donald Trump claims Elon Musk has restored full access, Ukrainian defense officials report ongoing connectivity issues for drones at high speeds.
Why it matters
The reliability of satellite communications is vital for Ukraine's military operations, and the involvement of private tech entities in state conflicts remains a major geopolitical issue.
Figure caption, Watch: Trump says Musk has restored Ukraine's Starlink internet access after row
Ukraine is still recording issues with the Starlink network, sources within the defence ministry say, after Donald Trump said limits on the satellite uplink had been reversed by Elon Musk.
The sources told the BBC that instances of drones experiencing connection loss at speeds of 161km/h (100mph) were being recorded, hampering military operations.
The US president had denied instructing the tech billionaire to restrict connectivity to Starlink's military-grade counterpart, Starshield, before saying on Thursday that Musk had "put it back".
Musk previously said he was not behind the slowdown, which affected Ukraine's ability to use attack drones and co-ordinate defensive operations.
The Ukrainian defence ministry sources said the military was constantly monitoring the performance of both the Starlink and Starshield networks.
They added that there was "currently no confirmation that these restrictions have been lifted".
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