Ukraine accuses US of helping Russia amid Starlink restrictions, intelligence row
Ukraine Accuses U.S. of Impeding Military Operations
Ukrainian officials have accused the United States of indirectly aiding Russia by withholding critical warnings about missile attacks and reportedly altering the Starlink satellite internet system, negatively impacting Kyiv’s military efforts.
In a public appeal, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged U.S. billionaire Elon Musk to restore full functionality to Starlink, an essential service for Ukrainian forces. Zelensky expressed concern that the system has been experiencing reduced speeds, affecting operations on the battlefield.
“I hope that it’s a mistake, maybe a huge technical problem,” Zelensky said in an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan. “We are asking to do it, to switch (it) on.”
Former Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov later announced that Starlink services providing speeds sufficient for drones flying at up to 160 kilometers per hour have been restored. This development, he indicated, would allow for the renewal of operations involving strike and interceptor drones.
Zelensky also expressed disappointment regarding U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of a diesel supply deal with Moscow, which is still subject to heavy sanctions. “It’s painful when President Trump chooses one side, not our side. I think his advisors are wrong,” he said.
Earlier, Zelensky criticized what he described as an unjust failure by allies to offer timely warnings ahead of significant missile attacks that occurred late Tuesday and early Wednesday. He accused Russia of deliberately violating an energy ceasefire that he claimed was unilaterally declared by Trump.
A senior Ukrainian official confirmed that Washington recently threatened to suspend intelligence-sharing regarding Russian missile launches, a key resource for Kyiv in anticipating and mitigating attacks. Trump has denied taking this action.
Ukrainian defense officials have also suggested that the U.S. may be responsible for reported reductions in the speeds of certain Starlink terminals, which are crucial for military operations in Russian-occupied regions.
“It’s obvious they are helping Russia for some reason,” the official stated.
Additionally, Zelensky’s advisor, Sergiy Beskrestnov, emphasized that the timing of the attacks and the alleged restrictions on Starlink appear to be more than coincidental. “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,” he wrote on Telegram.
