War in Ukraine: Ukraine reports improvements to Starlink

Much of the information regarding the course of the war, such as casualty figures or details of battles, comes from Ukrainian or Russian authorities and cannot be independently verified. For our live blog, in addition to our own research, we use material from the news agencies dpa, Reuters, epd, KNA, and Bloomberg. **Important Updates** Russia and Ukraine report mutual attacks Ukraine reports improvements in Starlink connections Ukraine and Russia agree to ceasefire for Olesky – White House: Melania Trump mediated Kyiv: Starlink remains throttled despite Trump's announcement 270 for 270: Moscow and Kyiv exchange prisoners **Ukraine reports improvements in Starlink connections** According to the Ministry of Defense, the US satellite internet service Starlink, which is critical for air defense, is functioning again in Ukraine following days of complaints from the leadership in Kyiv. Monitoring systems have recorded a restoration of Starlink/Starshield speeds, Defense Minister Yevhenii Chmara announced. "We are measuring speeds of over 400 km/h; the connection is stable," he told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency. Starshield is a specialized product from the US company SpaceX, based on Starlink technology but designed for government and military applications. SpaceX founder Elon Musk had stated that the US government decides on the use of Starshield and that Starlink itself may only be used for defense, not for military offensives. For days, it has been unclear who exactly was responsible for throttling the system. Reports suggest that Musk pushed for the throttling, likely to exert pressure on Ukraine in US-led peace negotiations with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had complained as recently as the previous evening that the system was still not fully operational. Regarding the restoration of service, his Defense Minister said that Starlink's functionality is vital for the front line, the military, the use of drones, logistics, and communication. "This is another example of how direct dialogue and the determined stance of the Ukrainian President at the highest level produce results," Chmara said. **Russia and Ukraine report mutual attacks** Both Ukraine and Russia reported attacks this Saturday morning. According to its own reports, the Russian armed forces continued their attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure overnight. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that drones attacked the Black Sea port of Chornomorsk and a cargo ship bound for Odesa. In turn, the Ukrainian armed forces attacked a petrochemical plant in the Russian city of Tolyatti in the Samara region, about 800 kilometers east of Moscow, overnight. The attack triggered an explosion and a fire, the Ukrainian General Staff reported on the messaging service Telegram. The mayor of Tolyatti also announced via Telegram that his city had been attacked by drones. **Ukraine and Russia agree to ceasefire for Olesky – White House: Melania Trump mediated** Ukraine and Russia have agreed to a local ceasefire for the Russian-occupied town of Olesky. Both sides announced that the truce would take effect on Tuesday (October 27) starting at 2 a.m. CET. The duration of the ceasefire has not yet been disclosed. According to the White House, US First Lady Melania Trump mediated the agreement between the two countries. It was agreed to temporarily cease all hostilities in Olesky to allow for the distribution of humanitarian aid and the safe evacuation of civilians via a designated safe corridor. Ukrainian negotiator Davyd Arakhamia stated that the agreement was the result of a long process involving both Melania Trump and Pope Leo. The Kremlin confirmed the agreement and stated that the Russian and Ukrainian militaries are working to set the implementation dates. The Russian Presidential Administration had already stated earlier in the week that work was being done to improve the situation. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that all civilians wishing to leave Olesky would be permitted to do so, and the evacuation is expected to take several days. "The situation in Olesky is catastrophic," Melania Trump stated in a communication. The frontline town is on the verge of collapse. The remaining population consists mainly of elderly people who urgently need medical care, medication, food, and clean drinking water. The ceasefire is intended to allow unarmed teams from both countries to visit residents in their homes and coordinate transport for those wishing to leave the town. The Kyiv General Staff announced on social media that the Ukrainian armed forces would do everything possible to help the residents of Olesky and ensure the safety and rescue of their fellow citizens. The evacuation is to be documented by a US media organization. The conservative US channel Newsmax reported that it had received exclusive access for its cameras to accompany the operation. Olesky is located opposite Kherson on the other side of the Dnipro River and has been occupied by Russian troops since February 2022. According to US data, approximately 1,700 to 2,000 people still live there, including around 50 children. Before the war, the town had around 24,000 inhabitants. Additionally, about 90 percent of the urban area was flooded following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. **Kyiv: Starlink remains throttled despite Trump's announcement** Contrary to the announcement by US President Donald Trump, Starlink satellite internet in Ukraine remains throttled, according to Kyiv. Speed restrictions are still in place, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a video conference with the Hudson Institute think tank. He referred to both Starlink and Starshield. The latter is a separate SpaceX product based on Starlink technology but designed for government and military applications. Additionally, Zelenskyy complained that the delivery of interceptor missiles against Russian ballistic missiles remains delayed. "This is a real problem because the Russians attack us almost every single day," he said. Presidential advisor Serhiy Beskrestnov had previously commented on the satellite internet, noting isolated cases where Starlink worked faster, but that this was likely due to the SpaceX algorithm. "Currently, we cannot detect any lifting of the restrictions on Starlink," he wrote on Facebook. On Thursday in Washington, Trump had said that SpaceX founder Elon Musk had lifted the throttling. On Friday, he then told journalists that he had not spoken with Musk. "I heard the problem was fixed, but if not, I will speak with him," he said. Since last week, the Ukrainian military has suffered from the fact that flying objects lose their connection to Starlink satellites at speeds exceeding 160 kilometers per hour. This affects drone flights used to defend against fast Russian jet drones as well as Ukrainian attacks. There have been contradictory statements from Musk and the US government as to why Starlink is running slower. Politically, the US is currently putting pressure on Ukraine to make it more open to compromise with the aggressor, Russia. **Zelenskyy: Peace talks in Abu Dhabi planned for November** According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, peace negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, and the US plan to meet for technical talks in Abu Dhabi in the first half of November. He hopes that this will be followed by a meeting of heads of state and government, Zelenskyy said during a video call with the US think tank Hudson Institute. According to Zelenskyy, a peace agreement requires security guarantees for his country as well as funding for the Ukrainian army for ten years. Furthermore, he complained that the speed limits for the Starlink and Starshield satellite communication systems remain in place despite assurances from US President Donald Trump. **Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport evacuated due to drone alarm** Russia's largest airport, Sheremetyevo, moved passengers to safety due to a drone alarm. According to the airport, access to the security areas of all terminals was restricted during the evacuation. Staff assisted people in moving to safe shelters, which included removing passengers from aircraft. The drone alarm has since been lifted, and passengers are leaving the shelters. The aviation authority Rosaviatsia also announced in the afternoon that operations at all four capital airports were temporarily restricted. Restrictions at Russian airports have occurred repeatedly for some time due to Ukrainian drone attacks. However, problems have intensified over the last few weeks. Aircraft are turning back on their way to Moscow or landing at other airports in Russia, leaving passengers stranded at times. **270 for 270: Moscow and Kyiv exchange prisoners** Ukraine and Russia have each exchanged 270 prisoners of war. "270 of our people are home," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on the platform X. According to his data, the released individuals include soldiers from the armed forces, the National Guard, and other units, as well as nine civilians. Many had been in Russian captivity since 2022, including defenders of the southern port city of Mariupol. Five returnees had been presumed dead after a severe explosion at the Russian prison in Olenivka in the Donetsk region in 2022. The exchange took place, as has recently been customary, at a border crossing between Belarus and Ukraine. 270 Russian soldiers were received, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow announced. They are to receive medical and psychological care in Russia. The exchange of prisoners and the return of dead soldiers is one of the few functioning lines of communication between the warring parties. **Commercial ship hit by drone off Romania again** According to Romanian President Nicusor Dan, a commercial ship has again been hit by a drone off the Romanian Black Sea coast, not far from the border with Ukraine. The incident occurred 13 nautical miles from Constanta in the Black Sea, just outside Romanian territorial waters. The crew—ten Ukrainians and three Azerbaijanis—on the ship, which was sailing under the flag of the Comoros, was able to send a distress signal. One sailor died and nine were rescued, several Romanian media outlets reported, citing the shipping authority responsible for rescue operations in the port city of Constanta. A search is underway for three other missing sailors. The ship capsized and is in danger of sinking, the Ministry of Interior in Bucharest reported. This is already the fourth commercial ship in October alone to have suffered an accident off the Romanian coast, presumably due to drone hits. Romanian President Nicușor Dan described the incident as another "attempt at escalation by Russia" in connection with the war of aggression against Ukraine. In this context, "a ship was hit by a drone," Dan told the Romanian TV channel Digi24. Dan did not say whether a Russian drone hit the ship. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the incident as "further escalation by Russia in the Black Sea," as she wrote on the platform X. "These reckless attacks target innocent people and represent a blatant violation of international law." **Trump announces restoration of Starlink access for Ukraine** According to US President Donald Trump, SpaceX founder Elon Musk has once again lifted the throttling of satellite internet for Ukraine. However, the President declined to comment on a media report that Musk did this on Trump's instructions. "Whether I called or someone else called doesn't matter," he said in Washington. What is important is that Musk reversed the throttling of the Starlink satellite internet service, which belongs to Musk's space company, SpaceX. The Wall Street Journal had previously reported, citing government officials, that Trump had urged Musk on Wednesday to reverse the slowdown of the satellite internet, which is essential for the Ukrainian armed forces. However, reports from Ukraine of limited functionality continued a day later. Official confirmation from Kyiv that the throttling has been lifted is not yet known. Ukraine relies on Starlink for battlefield communication and the use of drones. According to Ukrainian reports, throttling the service had recently restricted military activities in the fight against Russia. Prior to Trump's recent statements, the White House and Musk had denied all allegations of targeted throttling—even though problems with Starlink have been reported from Ukraine for over a week. It remains unclear who is responsible for the throttling. The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk ordered the step after consulting with Trump. Trump had said that neither he nor Musk was responsible. Musk, on the other hand, emphasized that the decision ultimately rests with the President, namely Trump. **Zelenskyy complains of ongoing Starlink problems** Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy complains that the speed of Starlink satellite internet for Ukraine has not been restored. He hopes for talks with the US Secretary of State in the coming days, Zelenskyy said in Kyiv. Furthermore, he declares himself ready for peace talks mediated by US President Donald Trump and other partners. The goal is to force Russia to end the war. He hopes for a meeting during the G20 summit in the USA. **Dead and injured after Russian attacks** Three people were killed in the southeast of Ukraine during a Russian attack. The attack hit a private house in Zaporizhzhia, the military administration announced. According to reports, one man and two women died. Authorities initially provided no details on the type of attack. Similarly, nine people were injured following a hit on a residential building in the Zhytomyr region, west of Kyiv, as Vitaliy Bunechko, head of the region's military administration, wrote on Telegram. Among them are two minors. Two injured persons were taken to the hospital. Russia reportedly used a drone. **Belarus: Russia and Ukraine exchange fallen soldiers again** Russia and Ukraine are exchanging the bodies of soldiers killed in the war. Moscow is handing over 252 fallen soldiers and receiving 25 bodies in return, the official Belarusian news agency Belta reports. **Despite US mediation: Ukraine and Russia continue mutual attacks** Despite new US mediation efforts, Russia and Ukraine have targeted each other's capitals with heavy airstrikes. In Kyiv, missiles struck on Thursday morning, as a witness told the Reuters news agency. According to Ukrainian authorities, 15 people were injured. According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Kyiv was attacked with 21 ballistic missiles. At least two people were killed and infrastructure and buildings were damaged, Zelenskyy explained. "Almost immediately after another round of talks, Russia launched a targeted attack," Zelenskyy further wrote on the messaging service Telegram. Subway infrastructure on a bridge over the Dnipro was damaged, according to Ukrainian authorities. For its part, Ukraine attacked Moscow overnight with hundreds of drones. According to Russia, however, most of the projectiles were shot down far from the capital. Near Moscow, however, two people were injured, according to authorities. Russian attacks occurred in other parts of Ukraine as well: In the northeastern Kharkiv region, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov, one woman was killed and four others injured. In the Poltava region, a drone hit energy infrastructure in the vicinity of Kremenchuk. The city on the Dnipro is an important industrial center and the site of one of Ukraine's largest oil refineries. During heavy attacks in the Odesa region, ships used by the Ukrainian army were among those hit, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow announced. During the most recent attack, 630 drones flew toward Moscow, as Mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced on the messaging service Telegram. But Ukraine also attacked other parts of the country: In the city of Lipetsk, about 400 kilometers south of Moscow, a man was injured, according to Russian authorities. Drones hit residential houses and a medical facility, Regional Governor Igor Artamonov explained. **NATO allows Ukraine to purchase weapons via its own procurement agency** According to a newspaper report, NATO intends to enable Ukraine to purchase weapons, ammunition, and military equipment through its central procurement agency. This could potentially allow the government in Kyiv to obtain armaments more quickly and cost-effectively, the Financial Times reports. The agreement provides Ukraine with a more structured framework to utilize the agency's wide range of offerings, Jacqueline Borsboom, a director at the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), told the paper. This includes expertise and support in procurement as well as access to an established industrial base. **Injured in Russian missile attack on Kyiv** According to military reports, the Ukrainian capital Kyiv was shelled with ballistic missiles by Russia late in the evening. The highest alert level was triggered at 10:06 p.m. local time (9:06 p.m. CEST). Just two minutes later, the Ukrainian Air Force reported the approach of several missiles. Media reported loud explosions over the city. A second wave of attacks followed about an hour and a half later, with no new impacts reported. This could indicate successful defense. The missile and drone alarm had covered almost all of Ukraine by around midnight local time (11 p.m. CEST). Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced that residential houses and a gas station on the eastern bank of the Dnipro were damaged by falling debris. There are at least five injured. It cannot be ruled out that people still need to be rescued from the damaged buildings.