Ukraine has accused the United States of weakening its ability to defend against Russian attacks, raising concerns over reported restrictions on Starlink satellite internet services and uncertainty surrounding intelligence sharing between Washington and Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appealed directly to Elon Musk, the billionaire who owns SpaceX, which operates Starlink, asking him to restore service capabilities that Ukrainian officials say are essential to military operations. Kyiv has reported reduced speeds on some Starlink terminals, raising concerns about their impact on strike drones and interceptor drones used against Russian forces.
“I hope that it’s a mistake, maybe a huge technical problem,” Zelensky told British journalist Piers Morgan. “I don’t know, but we are asking to do it, to switch it on.”
Former Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov later announced that Starlink services supporting speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour were being restored. He said the development would allow strike drones and interceptor drones to resume flying, although the precise scope of the restoration was not detailed in the report.
The dispute comes amid growing tension between Kyiv and Washington over military support, intelligence cooperation and US President Donald Trump’s approach to Russia. Zelensky said he felt betrayed by Trump’s announcement of a diesel supply deal with Moscow, which remains subject to extensive international sanctions.
“It’s painful when President Trump chooses one side, not our side,” Zelensky said. “I think his advisers are wrong. I don’t know who is pushing him not to the right side. This is not the right side of history.”
The Ukrainian president had also criticised what he described as a failure by allies to warn Kyiv ahead of a series of powerful Russian attacks late Tuesday and early Wednesday. He accused Moscow of violating what he said was an energy ceasefire announced unilaterally by Trump.
A senior Ukrainian official said Washington had recently threatened to suspend intelligence sharing on Russian missile launches, information that Ukraine relies on to prepare for incoming attacks and coordinate its defences. Trump denied taking such action on Tuesday.
The reported intelligence dispute has added to concerns in Kyiv about the reliability of US support at a time when Ukraine continues to defend its territory against Russian attacks. Access to information about missile launches can give Ukrainian forces additional time to assess threats and respond, making any interruption potentially consequential for military planning and civilian protection.
Ukrainian defence officials have also linked reported changes to Starlink performance with the country’s ability to operate drones, including interceptor systems designed to counter Russian attack drones. Starlink terminals provide satellite internet connectivity in areas where conventional communications infrastructure may be damaged, unavailable or unreliable.
A senior Ukrainian official accused the United States of indirectly assisting Russia through its reported actions, although the allegation was not independently established in the material provided.
“It’s obvious they are helping Russia for some reason,” the official told reporters.
Zelensky adviser Sergiy Beskrestnov also questioned the timing of the reported Starlink restrictions and the Russian attacks, arguing that the combination of developments was particularly damaging to Ukraine’s defences.
“Through their actions, our partners are depriving us of one of the few chances we have to defend the country against jet-powered Shahed drones,” Beskrestnov wrote on Telegram.
The accusations highlight Ukraine’s dependence on a combination of Western intelligence, satellite communications and military assistance to sustain its defence. They also underscore the uncertainty surrounding Kyiv’s relationship with the Trump administration, as disagreements over support for Ukraine increasingly intersect with Washington’s efforts to manage its dealings with Moscow.
The reported restoration of some Starlink capabilities may ease immediate operational concerns, but the wider questions over intelligence sharing, communications access and the direction of US policy remain unresolved in the account provided.
