Ukraine Drone Ops Resume: Satellite Links Back Online at High Speeds

Ukrainian military units regained full access to Starlink satellite communications on Saturday, ending a disruption that lasted more than a week. Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara stated that connections were stable for equipment moving at speeds exceeding 400 kilometres per hour. This restoration allows drones to maintain the high-speed data links necessary for precise strikes against Russian positions.

The return of service follows diplomatic efforts between Kyiv and Washington. Khmara credited talks with the United States and the diplomacy of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for resolving the issue. The exact origin of the restrictions remains unclear, as US President Donald Trump has denied responsibility while supporting the decision made by SpaceX, the satellite company owned by Elon Musk.

The outage occurred during a period of heightened tension between the two allies. Relations were already strained by Trump's agreement to temporarily lift sanctions on Russian diesel and permit US imports. Earlier in the month, Trump called for a change in Ukrainian leadership and suggested that a figure other than Zelenskyy should conduct negotiations for Kyiv. These remarks followed a public disagreement between the two leaders at the White House in February 2025.

The restoration of satellite links coincides with a push to revive peace negotiations. Negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States are scheduled to meet in Abu Dhabi in the first half of November. This will be the first major diplomatic gathering since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the planned talks on Friday, while Zelenskyy announced agreement on technical-level meetings.

Trump also claimed that his wife, Melania Trump, helped secure a local ceasefire in Oleshky, a settlement in the Kherson region. Russian forces have occupied the area since 2022. Ukrainian and Russian officials later set the start of the ceasefire for October 27, with a humanitarian operation planned for October 29. The agreement provides a temporary pause in fighting in that specific sector of the southern front.

Combat operations continued elsewhere on the front line. A Russian missile strike on Lozova in the Kharkiv region killed one man and wounded two others on Saturday. In Chernihiv, a Russian attack on Friday killed one person and wounded at least 25. Donetsk officials reported that shelling in Kramatorsk killed one person and wounded six, including three children. In Sloviansk, a 62-year-old woman died and four others were wounded in Friday's attacks, according to Mayor Vadym Lyakh.

Ukrainian forces reported strikes inside Russia on Friday and into Saturday. Targets included the Togliattikauchuk petrochemical plant in Togliatti, a major producer of synthetic rubber. Mayor Ilya Sukhikh confirmed industrial damage but reported no casualties. Ukraine also claimed a hit on the Proton electronics plant in Oryol, which produces missile components. Regional Governor Andrei Klychkov reported three deaths in an attack on an unidentified facility. Authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea reported power cuts following overnight Ukrainian attacks. Russia's Defence Ministry said its air defences intercepted a SCALP cruise missile, four Neptune missiles, and 1,297 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over 24 hours, according to TASS. These figures could not be independently verified.