Putin praised Elon Musk as a 'genius' during a Moscow summit, as Ukraine restores full operation of Starshield, its militarized version of Starlink, following a recent throttling. The Russian leader highlighted continued dialogue with U.S. partners, including Musk, on space matters. Ukraine's recovery from the throttling, which limited drone interception speeds, follows a period of disruption that hampered military operations.
The throttling of Starshield, which temporarily capped speeds at 160 km/h, disrupted Ukrainian drone defenses against Russian drones. Neither Musk nor the U.S. administration claimed responsibility, with Musk later closing a loophole allowing civilian Starlink use in offensive strikes. Ukraine denied the accusations, stating commercial Starlink does not operate within Russia. Zelenskyy confirmed full restoration of Starshield and Starlink services by Oct 27.
Russia's development of its own satellite network, Rassvet, is part of its efforts to counter U.S. and private tech influence. Putin emphasized the importance of maintaining discipline in space communications, noting Russia's limited capacity compared to SpaceX's 10,000+ satellites. The incident highlights tensions between private tech, national interests, and military operations in the conflict. Meanwhile, European leaders, including Finland and Norway, held rare talks with Putin, aiming to address peace efforts without representing broader European positions.
Ukraine and the U.S. have expressed hope for trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, though tensions persist between Zelenskyy and Trump. The conflict's impact on Europe's diplomatic strategies is evident, with European leaders seeking direct engagement with Russia despite U.S. softening on Russia. The situation underscores the complex interplay of technology, diplomacy, and military operations in the ongoing conflict.