Starshield operations restored to normal speed
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on October 24 that Starlink and its militarized version, Starshield, are once again operating at full speed after weeks of restrictions that had limited performance to 161 kilometers per hour.
“The speeds are now where they need to be,” Zelensky said. “I thank all Americans and all our partners who took this seriously and truly helped us. I thank members of Congress, senators, all the media, the State Department, and the President.”
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry reported that Starshield is now functioning stably at speeds above 400 kilometers per hour. Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara said the ministry continues to monitor the systems closely, describing the restoration as the result of direct dialogue and the persistent position of the Ukrainian president at the highest level. The full restoration is particularly important for frontline operations, drone work, logistics, and communications.
Since mid-October, the speed cap has significantly hindered Ukraine’s ability to intercept Russian jet-powered drones and coordinate military operations. Ukrainian officials had repeatedly stated that the restrictions remained in place even after earlier reports of progress. On October 23, Zelensky confirmed the limits were still active.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he had not spoken directly to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk about the issue but indicated he would intervene if problems continued. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had ordered Musk to lift the restrictions on October 21. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal has opened a probe into the disruption, while UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham raised the matter with Trump, stressing the importance of full Starlink access for Ukraine’s defense.
North Korea improves ballistic missiles and mass-produces drones with Russian support
North Korea is continuing to modernize its ballistic missiles and has launched mass production of attack drones, largely thanks to deepened military cooperation with Russia.
In exchange for soldiers, workers, and weapons, Russia is sharing technological developments and operational data with Pyongyang. This cooperation intensified after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In early October, North Korea tested a tactical ballistic missile that it claims is capable of carrying a nuclear payload. South Korea and Japan estimated the missile flew approximately 700 kilometers, while Pyongyang claimed a range of 1,000 kilometers. Five days later, South Korea conducted its first test of a hypersonic ballistic missile, observed by President Lee Jae-myung, signaling growing concern in Seoul over the rapid progress of North Korean capabilities.
Access to Russian deployment data and battlefield feedback has allowed North Korea to improve the accuracy and maneuverability of its weapons, making the threat to South Korea more substantial, according to analysts. Russia has also assisted in the development and mass production of unmanned systems.
Drawing lessons from the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, North Korea is focusing on inexpensive drones capable of overwhelming costly air defense systems. During a recent drill, a drone swarm attacked a target island while cruise and ballistic missiles struck simultaneously from different directions. These evolving tactics are expected to force South Korea and its allies to significantly redesign and expand their air defenses at high cost.
Occupied Oleshky is in a deep humanitarian crisis
In the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in Kherson Oblast, a severe humanitarian crisis continues to unfold. Once home to around 24,000 people, the town now has an estimated 1,700 to 2,000 residents remaining, the majority of them elderly, along with several dozen children. Most infrastructure has been destroyed or rendered unusable by years of occupation, shelling, flooding after the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in 2023, and ongoing fighting.
There is no electricity, gas, or centralized water supply. Roads leading in and out of the town are heavily mined and under constant surveillance by drones, making both the delivery of aid and any attempt to leave extremely dangerous. The last regular food delivery by road took place on May 26. Since then, residents have survived on remaining garden produce, canned goods, foraged plants, and in some cases snails. Ukrainian forces have conducted limited drone airdrops of food and medicine, but these are insufficient to meet the needs of those trapped inside.
The local hospital is the only medical facility still operating, though it functions at a minimal level. It has almost no medicines, limited fuel for its generator, and only a handful of staff remaining. Medical care is largely restricted to stopping bleeding. The hospital basement has been turned into a makeshift morgue, where dozens of bodies are stored because the actual morgue is destroyed and there is no power for refrigeration. Russian forces have reportedly restricted burials in some cases.
Attempts to organize a safe evacuation corridor have continued for months. A localized ceasefire agreement aimed at delivering humanitarian aid and facilitating civilian evacuations has been announced and is expected to take effect in late October, though implementation details and guarantees of safety remain under negotiation.