Key facts
- Starlink satellite access for Ukraine's military was restricted, impacting drone and air defense capabilities.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy feels personally betrayed by Donald Trump over the Starlink issue.
- The outage coincided with Russian missile strikes and potential limitations on US intelligence sharing.
- Elon Musk stated the Starlink curtailment was not his decision, but related to the US-operated Starshield network.
- Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, causing widespread power outages.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated he feels personally betrayed by Donald Trump after Starlink satellite access for Ukraine's military was restricted, impacting drone and air defense capabilities. The outage coincided with Russian missile strikes and a potential limitation of US intelligence sharing, according to Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy said in an interview that the Starlink system was blocked by SpaceX and the United States at 1 a.m. overnight, rendering most drones used for striking behind front lines inoperable. He also noted that air defense systems were affected, and that military advisers had received threats from the US about future intelligence sharing limitations.
Donald Trump denied cutting intelligence sharing, while blaming Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries for high diesel costs. Most analysts, however, attribute energy price increases to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham met with Zelenskyy in London, pledging continued support and accelerated military aid, including lightweight multi-role missiles. Elon Musk stated that the Starlink curtailment was not under SpaceX's control, as the military used a US-government operated network called Starshield.
Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, hitting five power plants and substations, leaving at least 600,000 people without power. Trump's proposed "energy ceasefire" has not been confirmed, with the Kremlin claiming adherence due to unspecified details.