Ukraine accuses Musk of crippling Starlink as ties with US worsen following Trump's Russia diesel deal

Ukraine has accused Elon Musk's SpaceX of restricting its Starlink satellite internet services without warning, disrupting military drone operations as Russian missile strikes damaged power stations and left hundreds of thousands of people without electricity.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described Moscow's latest attacks as an act of "ostentatious disrespect" towards US President Donald Trump, who had announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to stop attacking energy infrastructure. Neither side had formally confirmed the reported ceasefire, and Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities continued.The developments come amid worsening relations between Kyiv and Washington after Trump lifted sanctions on Russian diesel last week and criticised Zelenskyy. Trump, seeking to bring down fuel prices that have risen since the US launched a war against Iran, has urged Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries and suggested that Zelenskyy should be replaced.Starlink disruptions raise concerns in KyivUkrainian military officials said SpaceX had interrupted Starlink connections on military-grade terminals moving at high speeds, making it difficult for the country to use the satellite internet system to guide drones."Our defence forces did not receive a warning about this limitation, and this led to the disruption of several missions," presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov wrote on Telegram.Ukraine's 7th Rapid Reaction Corps, deployed in the country's south-east, said the connection had been dropping for 10 to 20 seconds when drones travelled at speeds of just 110 to 120 kmph."The drones kept moving, but these interruptions made them harder to control," the corps said in a statement to news agency Reuters.A source in Ukraine's Defence Ministry said the restrictions had significantly complicated logistics and some drone operations.The apparent disruption prompted criticism from Poland, which pays for Ukraine's Starlink subscriptions. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski directly challenged Musk over the issue."Hey, @elonmusk, big man, are you ​playing politics with your products again?" Sikorski asked Musk on X. "As your European customers, we are watching you."Musk did not immediately respond, while SpaceX did not immediately reply to a request for comment outside US business hours. Musk has previously called Sikorski a "small man".The reported restrictions have heightened Ukrainian concerns that Washington and its allies could reduce military support to pressure Kyiv into accepting concessions to Moscow. Sources have told Reuters and other news organisations that the US has threatened to cut off intelligence used to provide early warnings of Russian missile strikes unless Ukraine suspends attacks on Russian oil refineries.Russian strikes leavethousands without powerRussian missile attacks struck energy facilities in and around Kyiv and Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, during hours of bombardment.Officials said around 600,000 people were left without electricity. Zelenskyy said more than 30 power stations had been damaged, while Russia's Defence Ministry confirmed strikes on four power plants in and around Kyiv and two in Kharkiv, among other targets.In Kyiv, rescue workers carried injured people away from the wreckage of a damaged residential building overnight as firefighters battled a large blaze. Officials reported two deaths and 21 injuries at the site.Ukrainian officials said they had received no advance warning from Western partners about the major Russian attacks for a second consecutive day. Trump, however, insisted on Tuesday that Washington was continuing to share intelligence with Kyiv.Zelenskyy accused Moscow of deliberately disregarding Trump's announcement of an energy ceasefire."Russia does not consider the American President's statements strong," Zelenskyy wrote on X. "The strike was entirely deliberate and demonstrative in its scale – Russia has never before shown such ostentatious disrespect toward the United States."Zelenskyy said Ukraine was prepared to observe the proposed truce and had refrained from attacking Russian refineries since Trump's announcement. However, he warned that Kyiv would not continue to hold back if Russia kept striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure.The Kremlin said on Tuesday that discussions over an energy ceasefire were continuing.Ukraine said it had intercepted only four of the 39 Russian missiles launched in the latest attacks, highlighting the strain on its air defences amid shortages of weapons. The country's ability to counter fast-moving ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones has been a particular concern.Why Starlink matters to Ukraine's militaryStarlink has been a critical communications system for Ukraine since SpaceX activated the service in the country in the early days of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.Its resistance to electronic jamming has made it particularly valuable for military communications, helping Ukrainian forces coordinate operations, guide long-range attack drones and operate drones that deliver supplies to frontline troops.Although Starlink does not operate inside Russia and Ukrainian drones attacking Russian oil infrastructure use other communication methods, Kyiv relies on the system to control drones over Ukrainian territory, including areas occupied by Russian forces.Any sustained disruption could therefore affect battlefield communications, drone operations and the delivery of supplies to troops.Musk is a close political ally of Trump, adding another layer of concern for Kyiv as it faces continued Russian attacks, uncertainty over Western intelligence support and growing pressure from Washington to agree to limits on its military operations.You use AI every day. 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