Tech billionaire Elon Musk has called for Volodymyr Zelensky to “go” as Ukraine’s president, as a row over his Starlink satellite system deepens and Kyiv resumes strikes on Russian oil refineries.
“And so the slaughter continues,” Musk wrote on X on Wednesday. “Time for Zelensky to go,” Dawn reported, citing AFP. Zelensky had called on Musk to restore Starlink, which Kyiv says has been slowed down.
Who controls the satellites?
Musk said any disruption was the responsibility of the US government. He drew a distinction between Starshield, which Ukraine relies on for battlefield communications and which he said is controlled by the US government, and the civilian Starlink system, which Ukraine also uses but is not allowed to use for offensive operations.
Ukraine this week accused the United States of helping Russia by failing to warn it of incoming missile strikes and by hobbling its military through the Starlink changes. A senior Kyiv official said the US had threatened to stop sharing intelligence on Russian missile launches, which President Donald Trump has denied.
Trump and Zelensky at odds
- Diesel deal: Zelensky said he felt “betrayed” after Trump announced a diesel-supply deal with Moscow
- New leader: Trump said on Saturday that “it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president” who “can make a deal”
- Fuel prices: facing midterm elections in which high fuel prices are a key issue, Trump has blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries for pushing up prices
Zelensky accused Trump of an affinity for autocrats. “He speaks about it openly and loudly that he loves such people and he respects such people. Because for him people who can be leaders 20 years, 30 years, 40 years, it means they can be very strong,” Zelensky said, The Express Tribune reported, citing Reuters.
Refinery strikes resume
A major Ukrainian drone attack set fire to an oil refinery in Russia’s Ryazan region on Thursday morning, the regional governor said. There were no casualties, though some schools temporarily closed.
It was the first confirmed Ukrainian attack on a Russian energy facility since Trump announced on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed an energy ceasefire. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Ukraine had also attacked refineries in the Saratov and Ryazan regions on Wednesday, which Ukraine denied.
Putin vows a response
Russian President Vladimir Putin said the recent strikes had not caused significant damage but vowed that Moscow would respond. “They hit here and there. Nothing particularly significant. Nevertheless they are carrying on,” he said, according to Interfax.
Washington has pressed Kyiv to stop striking Russian refineries, saying a moratorium, along with the US deal to buy Russian diesel, is needed to bring down American fuel prices. Zelensky has condemned the deal, saying it would help Russia prolong its invasion.
Why it matters
Ukraine is now at odds with both the White House and the owner of the satellite network its forces depend on. With Russia vowing revenge and the energy ceasefire already broken, the war’s toll on civilians this winter could rise sharply. Read our reports on Ukraine’s accusations over Starlink and on Trump’s call for a new Ukrainian president.
This article draws on reporting by Dawn, The Express Tribune, AFP and Reuters.
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