Ukraine says SpaceX restrictions disrupted drone missions as Russian strikes hit power stations

Kyiv, Ukraine. Ukrainian officials accused Elon Musk’s SpaceX on Wednesday of restricting Starlink services in a way that disabled drone guidance and disrupted military missions. Meanwhile, Russian missile strikes disabled power stations, prompting President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to describe the attacks as “ostentatious disrespect” towards US President Donald Trump.

Officials report unannounced Starlink restrictions

Ukrainian military officials said SpaceX (SPCX.O) had unexpectedly stopped military-grade Starlink terminals from operating while travelling at high speeds. They said the restriction effectively left Kyiv unable to use the terminals to guide drones from onboard.

“Our defence forces did not receive a warning about this limitation, and this led to the disruption of several missions,” presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov wrote on Telegram.

The prospect of SpaceX restricting Ukraine’s military operations prompted a forceful reaction from Poland, which covers the cost of Ukrainian Starlink subscriptions for Kyiv.

Writing on X, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski addressed Musk as a big man and asked whether he was again using his products for political purposes. He added that European customers were monitoring his actions.

Musk, who previously described Sikorski as a small man, did not immediately reply. SpaceX also provided no immediate response to a request for comment made outside US business hours.

Energy attacks continue amid worsening US ties

Relations between Kyiv and Washington have deteriorated sharply since Trump unexpectedly removed sanctions on Russian diesel last week and publicly criticised Zelenskiy.

Facing political pressure to bring down fuel prices, which have surged since he began a war against Iran, Trump has urged Kyiv to stop striking Russian refineries. He has also said Ukrainians should choose a replacement for their wartime president.

Trump announced that both Russia and Ukraine had accepted a halt to strikes against energy infrastructure. Neither country confirmed an agreement, however, and heavy Russian bombardments over the past two days have included attacks on Ukrainian power stations.

Musk’s close political alliance with Trump has added to the significance of the reported Starlink restrictions. The suggestion that SpaceX could curb Ukrainian military capabilities deepened existing concerns in Ukraine that Washington might withdraw battlefield assistance to pressure its former ally into concessions.