Starlink restrictions ‘depriving’ Ukraine of defence means: Zelensky adviser
A senior Ukrainian official said the disruption severely restricts logistics and is happening in sync with a Russian ballistic attack.
On Wednesday, Zelensky's technology adviser, Sergiy Beskrestnov, claimed that restrictions imposed on Starlink internet terminals overnight had negatively impacted Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russia's jet-powered drones. The Ukrainian president's aide stated that the move, carried out by SpaceX owner Elon Musk, had left Kyiv's defense forces without prior notice and disrupted several missions.
Beskrestnov warned that this development deprived Ukraine of one of its few chances to safeguard the country against the advanced jet-powered Shahed drones. No immediate response was received from Starlink or Musk regarding Ukraine's allegations.
Ukraine has been leveraging Starlink terminals to provide satellite internet connections as an alternative to radio-controlled systems for its drones. A senior Ukrainian official revealed to AFP that the disruption "severely restricts logistics," as some limitations had already been reported the previous evening. The official claimed that by throttling Starlink, the United States was "helping Russia."
Despite a social media post from former U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday suggesting an energy ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, Ukraine reported a Russian missile strike on a power plant in Kyiv on Tuesday evening. In August, Zelensky expressed his desire to collaborate with a European country to develop an alternative to Starlink.
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