Ukraine accused Elon Musk’s SpaceX on Wednesday of restricting Starlink satellite internet service without warning, disrupting military missions just as Russia fired 39 ballistic missiles and more than 120 drones at Ukrainian energy infrastructure, according to Reuters, CNN and The Times.
- Presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov said SpaceX imposed a speed limit on moving military-grade Starlink terminals with no warning, disrupting several missions.
- Russia struck Kyiv, the Kyiv region and Kharkiv overnight; Zelensky said about 600,000 people were left without power.
- Kyiv links the move to mounting US pressure: Trump has demanded Ukraine stop hitting Russian oil refineries and recently lifted sanctions on Russian diesel.
- Poland’s foreign minister publicly pressed Musk: “Are you playing politics with your products again?”
What happened overnight
Serhiy Beskrestnov, a military-technology adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, wrote on Telegram that SpaceX introduced a speed limit on Starlink terminals in motion. “Our defence forces did not receive a warning about this limitation, and this led to the disruption of a number of missions,” he wrote. “Obviously, this action cannot be a coincidence and is linked to the current political situation.”
Ukraine relies on Starlink for battlefield communications and drone guidance. A Ukrainian military source with direct knowledge of the impact told CNN that “the complications are substantial.” A defense ministry source said the curbs complicate logistics and mid-range strikes.
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Zelensky accuses Russia of snubbing Trump
Zelensky said Russia launched 39 ballistic missiles and more than 120 attack drones and loitering munitions overnight at energy and critical infrastructure in Kyiv, the Kyiv region and Kharkiv, according to his post on X. About 600,000 people lost power, he said.
He called the strikes “ostentatious disrespect” toward Trump — days after the US president announced an energy ceasefire between the two sides, which neither Moscow nor Kyiv formally confirmed. Read our earlier coverage of Trump’s surprise energy-ceasefire announcement. Zelensky added that Ukraine received no US early warning about the incoming ballistic missiles — the second straight night that has happened.
Why the timing points to Washington
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Kyiv’s ties with Washington were deteriorating fast. Trump last week lifted sanctions on Russian diesel and signed a deal to import it, urged Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries, and said Ukrainians should replace their wartime leader. Musk has echoed that pressure on X, writing that “Zelensky has gone too far” over the refinery strikes.
Ukrainian officials believe the Starlink restrictions were made at the Trump administration’s request, the Jerusalem Post reported — though the US has not confirmed that, and Trump said on Tuesday the US is still sharing intelligence with Ukraine. Poland, which pays for Ukraine’s Starlink subscriptions, pushed back: Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski asked Musk, “Hey, @elonmusk, big man, are you playing politics with your products again?” adding: “As your European customers, we are watching you.” SpaceX did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Will Starlink limits hurt Ukraine’s war effort?
Beskrestnov said Starlink is one of Ukraine’s few reliable tools for defending its airspace against Russian Shahed drones. Ukrainian officials told CNN they are testing backup communication channels and are in contact with the US, SpaceX and NATO allies.
Ukraine has spent months striking deep inside Russia with long-range drones, including a recent strike on Yandex data centres — the very refinery campaign Trump wants halted. Shares in European satellite operator Eutelsat jumped 11.6 percent on Wednesday as investors bet European providers could benefit from the strains between Washington and Kyiv, Reuters reported.
Reporting for this story drew on Reuters, CNN, The Times (UK), Agence France-Presse, The New York Post and The Jerusalem Post.
