Kathrine Frich
Kyiv is celebrating the full return of its battlefield internet.
In a long conflict, momentum can shift in a matter of hours.
Setbacks on the ground often pile up until a sudden breakthrough changes the mood entirely.
Over the past few days, a pair of major developments has given one side a fresh reason to celebrate.
Fireball in Oryol
Ukrainian forces have scored a direct hit on a key Russian weapons plant using British missiles, the Daily Express reported.
Combat footage shared from the battlefield appears to show a Storm Shadow missile slamming into the Proton-Electrotex complex in Oryol, Russia, according to The Sun.
Flames and a massive fireball erupted above the site earlier this week. Military observers believe the facility makes vital parts for Moscow’s ballistic missiles, the Daily Express noted, making the strike a heavy blow to Vladimir Putin’s supply chain.
For Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the burning factory marks his second big win in just a few days.
Back online
Alongside the missile strike, Kyiv is celebrating the full return of its battlefield internet, according to the Daily Express. Ukrainian troops rely heavily on Starlink and its military version, Starshield, to run mobile communications and guide drones across the front lines.
Earlier this month, connection speeds dropped sharply. That slowdown forced urgent talks between Zelensky, Starlink boss Elon Musk, and US President Donald Trump to get the network running properly again.
By Saturday, October 24, the effort had paid off. Sharing the news on X, Zelensky wrote: “The most important thing today is that Starlink and Starshield operations have been restored to the speeds we had before the restrictions. The speeds are now where they need to be.”
He also thanked Washington for stepping in.
“The restoration began overnight, and by this morning, speeds were already sufficient. This matters: for our frontline logistics, for defending Ukraine against jet-powered “shaheds.” I thank all Americans and all our partners who took this seriously and truly helped, members of Congress, senators, all the media, the State Department, and the President. Protecting lives matters,” he posted.
Meanwhile, the Daily Express noted that Melania Trump claims she arranged a separate truce to let food reach starving residents in Oleshky, near the Crimean Peninsula.
