Starlink restrictions hamper Ukraine's drone operations against Russia

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 00:32 · Archive

Restrictions on Starlink services this week disabled Ukraine's military communications and drone operations, according to Ukrainian officials.

Restrictions on Starlink services this week left Ukraine's military unable to communicate effectively on the front lines and harmed its air defence capabilities, according to Ukrainian officials. The move prompted President Volodymyr Zelensky to accuse the United States of betraying Ukraine, warning it would cause 'human losses'.

Serhiy Beskrestnov, a senior adviser to Zelensky, said the sudden limits on the critical communication service led to cancellation of offensive operations, interrupted logistics on the battlefield and harmed Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian drones. Elon Musk said the US military was responsible for the decision, as it controls Starshield, the military version of Starlink.

Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko warned that 'Russia will try to exploit every gap'. He told The i Paper that 'Ukraine's dependence on Starlink is close to total', describing how the service was used for unit communications, flying interceptor drones against Russian Shahed drones, guiding long-range drones against Russian logistics and supplying frontline positions. The restrictions follow other US moves that have angered Ukrainian officials, including allegations that Washington failed to warn Ukraine of Russian air strikes on Kyiv and Kharkiv that killed six people. Trump denied suspending intelligence sharing, with White House officials attributing the lack of warning to bad weather.

How it is being reported

• ANDY JEHRING: My night with elite Ukrainian special forces whose long-range drones are causing such devastation for Putin that Trump's being accused of sabotaging them'Get down!' the Ukrainian commander bellows, as a high-speed drone armed with a 105kg warhead hurtles across the field.Daily Mail · 16 Oct, 00:16
• Trump’s drone slowdown could change the course of Putin’s war'Russia will try to exploit every gap,' one Ukrainian MP tells The i PaperThe i Paper · 15 Oct, 16:03

In this story: Donald Trump · Volodymyr Zelensky · Vladimir Putin · Elon Musk · Serhiy Beskrestnov · Oleksiy Goncharenko · Ukraine · Russia

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