Ukraine accuses US of helping Russia after Starlink cuts - National & International News -

Ukraine accuses US of helping Russia after Starlink cuts allow missiles to hit Kiev

According to Ukrainian officials, residents and the country’s defense were left with no warning of incoming Russian strikes on Wednesday due to apparent throttling Starlink connections. Ukraine relies heavily on Starlink both to direct drone attacks against Russia and to operate interceptor drones that thwart Russia’s attacks. These connections were severed without warning on Wednesday, Ukrainian officials said. Additionally, Ukraine had no warnings of incoming Russian missile attacks due to a lack of intelligence-sharing from Western allies.

Sergyi Beskrestnov, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky implied that these cuts were deliberate and “related to the current political situation”. He was referring to escalating tensions between Kiev and Washington after President Trump announced recently that the US would lift some sanctions on Russia in exchange for deliveries of Russian diesel. Trump also claimed that both sides had agreed to halt targeting each other’s energy infrastructure, though neither Ukrainian or Russian officials confirmed this agreement.

Beskrestnov also said that the Starlink cuts had disrupted several Ukrainian “missions”, but it wasn’t clear if these were offensive or defensive missions.

A senior Ukrainian official also told the press, “It’s obvious they (the US) are helping Russia for some reason”.

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX which operates Starlink, tweeted that any limits on speed or usage of Starlink “are decided by the US military and ultimately [President Trump]”.

President Trump recently lashed out at Zelensky over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil facilities, and said that Zelensky should perhaps be replaced. Record diesel prices are driving up prices on consumer goods for Americans ahead of the midterms, and Trump was hoping that a delivery of Russian diesel would provide a lifeline. However, the main cause of the high prices is the US-Israeli war on Iran, which continues to imperil shipping on the Strait of Hormuz.