Ukraine has accused the United States of helping Russia by failing to warn it of incoming missile strikes and by hobbling its military through restrictions on the Starlink satellite system used on the battlefield.
President Volodymyr Zelensky called the lack of notice about a wave of powerful Russian strikes on Tuesday night and Wednesday “completely unjust”, and accused Russia of flouting a supposed “energy ceasefire” announced by US President Donald Trump, Dawn reported, citing AFP.
“They are helping Russia”
A senior official in Kyiv confirmed that the United States had in recent days threatened to stop sharing intelligence on Russian missile launches, which Ukraine uses to defend against attacks. Trump denied doing so on Tuesday.
“It’s obvious they (the United States) are helping Russia for some reason,” the senior official said.
Starlink restrictions
Ukrainian officials said Elon Musk’s SpaceX had imposed restrictions on its satellite services, disrupting drone operations, The Express Tribune reported, citing Reuters.
- Speed limit: presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov said SpaceX had imposed a 160 kilometre an hour limit on its StarShield military and intelligence service
- Lost connections: a defence ministry source said some units lost connection at speeds below half that limit
- Missions disrupted: the restrictions affected military-grade terminals used in drones for attacks on Russian targets and for intercepting Russian drones
- No warning: Ukrainian defence sources said SpaceX “unilaterally restricted the operation of Starshield terminals… without prior warning”
“Through their actions, our partners are depriving us of one of the few chances we have to defend the country against jet-powered Shahed drones,” Beskrestnov wrote, noting such drones can fly at up to 600 kilometres an hour.
Kyiv has sought clarification from SpaceX, the US government and NATO. There was no immediate comment from SpaceX.
“A big mistake”
“It’s a big mistake… this decision will bring a lot of human losses,” Zelensky said, adding that it was painful that Trump appeared to be taking Russia’s side when a president seeking to mediate must stay neutral.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, whose country pays for Ukraine’s Starlink subscriptions, criticised Musk over the reported restrictions, questioning whether he was using his products for political purposes.
Strikes leave 600,000 without power
Russian missiles and drones hit Ukrainian cities overnight and on Wednesday, damaging 30 energy facilities, Zelensky said. About 600,000 people were left without electricity. Six people were killed in the western city of Lutsk, and in Kyiv officials reported two deaths and 21 injuries.
The strikes came as Trump publicly criticised Zelensky, called for a halt to attacks on Russian oil refineries and suggested Ukrainians should replace their wartime leader. In recent days, Trump has also announced a deal allowing Russia to export diesel, which US envoys told Ukrainian officials was meant to draw Moscow back to peace talks.
Why it matters
Ukraine’s air defence relies heavily on American intelligence and Starlink connectivity. If both are being restricted while Russian strikes intensify, Kyiv faces a harder winter, and the rift with Washington will deepen. Read our reports on Trump’s call for a new Ukrainian president and on NATO’s warning to Russia.
This article draws on reporting by Dawn, The Express Tribune, AFP and Reuters.
Comments
Comments are reviewed by our editors before they appear. Please keep them civil and on topic. See our terms.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your view.