Starlink slowdown disrupts Ukrainian drone units on southeastern front

Ukraine reported that restrictions on its use of Starshield, the military variant of Starlink, disrupted drone operations on front lines, with some missions aborted and equipment potentially lost to Russian forces. The limits, imposed without warning, affected attack and reconnaissance drones used in offensive operations in southeastern Ukraine, with soldiers saying slower speeds made them vulnerable and left radio as the only alternative. President Donald Trump said service was restored, but Kyiv disputed this as of Friday. The slowdown came amid a broader deterioration in U.S.-Ukraine relations, including disputes over intelligence sharing, and threatened to undermine Ukraine's recent territorial gains in the Donetsk region, which had disrupted Russian assaults on key strongholds.