Zelenskyy: Ukraine Uses Starlink to Intercept Russian Drones, Speed Not Yet Restored

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that Ukraine's military uses Starlink to intercept Russian drones, but the system's speed has not fully recovered, severely impacting air defense capabilities. Zelenskyy made the remarks at an EU leaders summit in Brussels, where he requested an additional 70 billion euros from the EU by 2027. He said the speed limit reduction prevented Ukraine from shooting down Shahed drones, which fly at 400 km/h, while Starlink was limited to 70 km/h. Zelenskyy noted the system was not shut down but limited, affecting defense operations and logistics. He said partners indicated the White House signaled restoration of functions, though speeds had not yet returned to normal.