Volodymyr Zelenskyy said reductions in Starlink connection speeds prevented Ukrainian forces from intercepting jet-powered Shahed drones and disrupted other battlefield tasks. He explained that specialised high-speed interceptor drones rely on Starlink; with satellite links throttled, interceptors were limited to about 70 km/h while Shaheds travel at over 400 km/h, leaving civilians exposed. The slowdown also hampered mid-range strikes against Russian forces in occupied areas and complicated delivery of water and food to frontline troops who endure prolonged deployment under Russian drone surveillance. Zelenskyy stressed Ukraine does not use Starlink for long-range strikes into Russian territory.
The Ukrainian Defence Ministry has been in daily contact with the United States and was recently informed the connection speed was restored, a development Zelenskyy welcomed. Kyiv says it asked SpaceX and the White House to restore capabilities but received no early affirmation. Reporting indicates competing accounts over responsibility: one report attributed a White House order to limit the Starshield system used for battlefield communications and drone control, while others say the administration disclaims involvement and points to SpaceX. A U.S. senator has called for an investigation. Zelenskyy called the communications restriction a grave mistake that caused casualties and destruction.
Summary generated by AI from the linked article. hn.today is not affiliated with Hacker News or Y Combinator.
Let's Encrypt is adding two new remote perspectives for domain validation to enhance security and comply with new Baseline Requirements. The update will increase validation requests from seven to nine, making hijacking more difficult, with a rollout starting in late October 2026. (community.letsencrypt.org)
A former Savannah police officer gave her ICE agent husband access to the police department’s Flock license plate system. He used it to conduct hundreds of searches related to ICE investigations, leading to her firing for policy violations. (wjcl.com)
A critical vulnerability in Linux KVM allows guest virtual machines to escape to the host, posing a significant security risk. This flaw could enable new types of attacks targeting Linux-based virtualization environments. (theregister.com)
Flatpak, a containerization technology for Linux desktops, aims to modernize software deployment but has significant security vulnerabilities. Its widespread adoption raises concerns about potential security risks and the slow migration from traditional packaging methods. (oro.gay)
Verisign faces a consumer class action lawsuit over its management of the .com domain name registry. The case alleges misconduct related to domain registration practices and policies. (hbsslaw.com)
![Man arrested after discussing plans for childcare mass shooting with [Claude]](https://hntoday.pixelshot.io/screenshots/20261019/f93dd1dd431e49a7_tn.jpeg)
A Sydney man was arrested after telling an AI chatbot about plans to shoot children at a childcare center, referencing a terrorist attack at Bondi Beach. He was remanded for a mental health assessment, with prosecutors warning of a potential catastrophic outcome if released. (smh.com.au)
Today's best Hacker News stories, summarized and screenshotted, one email a day.