UK defence secretary says Starlink service restored to Ukraine after disruption

British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth assured him Ukraine's Starlink satellite communications had been restored after a disruption that affected military operations.

Streeting spoke after meeting his US counterpart in Washington. He told the BBC that British officials had not established what caused the interruption or why access had been limited.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously criticised the restrictions, saying they had affected systems used by his country's armed forces for communications and drone operations.

The reported interruption involved questions over the distinction between the commercial Starlink service and the military-oriented Starshield system used for defence purposes. Those services have different management arrangements, according to the statements provided.

Streeting's account concerned an assurance given to him by Hegseth. The newsroom's available material did not include a technical report from the provider confirming the exact scope or timing of the restoration.

Reports citing American officials have separately raised questions about who ordered restrictions on the military system. Those reports should not be treated as a technical explanation for every loss of access experienced by Ukrainian forces.

The British minister used his visit to Washington to discuss support for Ukraine and cooperation between British and American defence authorities. He said the United States' role remained important to Ukraine's military and intelligence support.

The controversy arose during disagreements between Washington and Kyiv over the war against Russia. Zelensky criticised the US administration's approach, while British officials sought to maintain the defence relationship.

Streeting said the United Kingdom intended to continue supporting Ukraine. His remarks did not include an announcement that American aid had been withdrawn or identify a new agreement on the operation of satellite systems.

The available statements do not establish how many military units were affected, whether every terminal regained service at the same moment, or what specific operational outcomes resulted from the interruption.

The reported restoration and the unresolved cause are separate facts. Streeting said he had been assured service was back, while acknowledging the British government still lacked a clear explanation of the disruption.