Zelensky Accuses Trump of Betraying Ukraine After Starlink Turned Off and Drones Lost Mid-Mission

President Zelensky has accused President Trump of betraying Ukraine after Starlink terminals used by the Ukrainian military were restricted. The decision to limit access to Elon Musk’s Starlink internet on Tuesday caught the Ukrainian military by surprise, causing contact to be lost with drones on missions and the cancellation of operations, a Ukrainian military source on the frontline tells The New York Sun. Hundreds of drone missions may now have to be cancelled after the Starlink terminals used by Ukrainian drone units began experiencing signal failures at speeds above 160kph. Asked on Wednesday if he felt betrayed by the decision, Mr. Zelensky answered, “Yes.”“This is not the right side of history,” he told Piers Morgan. “It is a pity that we are losing a strong partner. This decision will bring a lot of human losses. I think Trump’s advisers are wrong. I don’t know who is pushing him to the wrong side.”Ukraine is under pressure from Mr. Trump to end strikes against diesel infrastructure in Russia. He has blamed President Zelensky for the high price of diesel and called for elections in Ukraine.The Starlink restriction impacts long-range and mid-range drone strikes, which have been particularly effective at inflicting damage on key targets within Russia — such on oil refineries and energy infrastructure — and on Russian logistics.“It came as a surprise to the units,” the Ukrainian military source tells The New York Sun. “Several operations were ongoing at that time, and some of them simply failed because the crews lost connection to their drones. A lot of other operations had to be cancelled.”Mr. Musk posted on X that the Starshield terminals — the military version of Starlink — used by Ukraine are owned and controlled by the American government. “Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,” he wrote.Rather than decrease attacks on Russian diesel infrastructure that President Trump has demanded, some in the Ukrainian military believe the Starlink restriction will only intensify such strikes. “The likelihood of Ukraine increasing strikes against Russian oil refineries becomes much higher as a result of this decision,” the Ukrainian military source, speaking anonymously due to military regulations, went on. “What’s important to note is that some Ukrainian drones can operate both with and without Starlink. For example, FirePoint drones can be used in different configurations. One version uses Starlink for remote control, while another can fly towards predetermined coordinates on Russian territory. “So when Starlink is disabled, more drones of this type may end up being used for strikes against targets on Russian territory instead.” The restriction, though, is likely to have a significant impact on Ukrainian operations.The source adds that “We have alternatives to Starlink. The problem is scaling. When you have several thousand drones already prepared to operate with Starlink, switching them to another system takes time and, of course, additional funding. It might take months to switch to alternative systems at scale. It is a serious setback.“The only thing that can really stop Russia is the problems it faces on the battlefield. So when Putin sees that Ukraine is losing one of its advantages on the battlefield, of course it will encourage him to push further. He will have even less reason to stop this war, or even pause it. In that sense, switching off Starlink will only prolong the war.“It will also cost Ukraine more lives on the battlefield because it makes it harder for us to defend ourselves.”It was not immediately clear what is behind the Starlink interruptions, though some Ukrainian officials said they suspect a deal may have been done between Mr. Trump and Mr. Musk. Starlink has not yet responded. Mr. Zelensky’s defense technology adviser, Serhii Beskrestnov, linked the restriction to Mr. Trump. “It is obvious that this action cannot be a coincidence and is connected to the current political situation.” Mr. Beskrestnov said the restrictions were put on the military-grade version of Starlink at speeds above 100 miles per hour.The restriction jars with a statement Mr. Musk made on X last year. “No matter how much I disagree with the Ukraine policy, Starlink will never turn off its terminals,” he wrote. “I am simply stating that, without Starlink, the Ukrainian lines would collapse, as the Russians can jam all other communications! We would never do such a thing or use it as a bargaining chip.”Starlink is also used for Ukraine’s aerial defenses to intercept jet-powered drones fired by Moscow. Ukraine’s Charge d’Affaires to America Denys Sienik said of Starlink, “the technology helps us save the lives of civilians and prevent more destruction in Ukraine caused by the Russian side.”.

Zelensky Accuses Trump of Betraying Ukraine After Starlink Turned Off and Drones Lost Mid-Mission

Zelensky Accuses Trump of Betraying Ukraine After Starlink Turned Off and Drones Lost Mid-Mission

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