Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on October 24 that the Starshield and Starlink satellite systems were back to normal operations. Disruptions in the communications systems, developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX company, had limited Ukraine's defensive operations for over a week.

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers is stepping up efforts to defend Ukraine, challenging President Donald Trump’s decision to ease restrictions on Russian energy imports and demanding guarantees that Kyiv will retain access to critical American military and intelligence support.

Opium cultivation fell dramatically in Afghanistan, the world’s largest producer, after the Taliban imposed a narcotics ban in 2022. Since then, production has surged in neighboring Pakistan and Iran.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Starshield satellite communications system had returned to its previous operating speed following restrictions that had disrupted Ukrainian military operations.