‘People will die’: Elon Musk urged to restore crucial Starlink access for Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's adviser, Serhiy Beskrestnov, claims that new restrictions on Starlink internet speed have disrupted Ukraine's military operations. Beskrestnov revealed that the speed limit was set at 100mph (160km/h) by SpaceX overnight, without prior notice to Ukraine. Starlink is crucial for guiding drones to targets and protecting the Ukrainian skies.

The adviser believes the restrictions are politically motivated, related to the current political situation. SpaceX has not commented on the matter. On Wednesday, Beskrestnov posted on Telegram, stating that the speed limit had already caused disruptions to several missions. The adviser emphasized that Starlink is Ukraine's most effective tool for intercepting Russia's newly-developed jet-propelled drones.

Meanwhile, at least 600,000 people in Ukraine were left without electricity due to Russian missile and drone strikes overnight. Kyiv, the capital, and the northeastern city of Kharkiv were particularly affected. Despite US President Donald Trump's claim of an "energy ceasefire," critical energy infrastructure in Kyiv and Kharkiv was targeted.

Russia reported hitting communications and energy facilities used by Ukraine's military. Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.