Ukraine resumes refinery strikes as Starlink limits spark US rift

· Security · Ukraine · United States

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine would resume strikes on Russian oil refineries after a US-brokered energy pause collapsed, and rallied European allies as ties with Washington soured. The dispute escalated after Ukraine said restrictions on SpaceX's Starlink and Starshield systems disrupted military operations, including drone missions and air-raid warnings. Elon Musk said any limits were decided by the US military and ultimately the president; a senior US official said Trump did not order them. The service was later restored. UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting urged the US to stand by Kyiv during a Washington visit.

Why it matters：The rift tests Western unity on Ukraine and highlights how dependent Kyiv's battlefield operations are on a single private satellite network controlled by US politics.

Key points

  • Zelensky said Ukraine's pause on striking Russian energy sites is over after fresh Russian attacks
  • Ukraine said Starlink and Starshield restrictions disrupted drone operations and air-raid warnings
  • Musk said limits are decided by the US military and ultimately the president; a US official denied Trump ordered them

Sources (original reporting)

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