'This cannot be a coincidence' — Ukraine's Starlink access restricted without warning, Zelensky adviser says

Ukraine's Starlink access has been restricted without warning, severely disrupting "several" military missions, presidential adviser Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov said on Oct. 14.

"I confirm that (Starlink owner) SpaceX implemented speed restrictions on Starlink terminals while in motion last night. Currently, the restriction applies to the StarShield 'military service package' and limits speed to 100 miles per hour (160 kilometers per hour)," he said in a post on social media.

Ukraine relies on Starlink to operate its mid-strike drones in Russian-occupied Ukraine.

This mid-strike campaign has this year allowed Ukraine to strangle Russian logistics, hampering its ability to fight on the front lines.

A source in Ukraine's Defense Ministry confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that speed limitations had been discovered and the cause was being investigated.

"Obviously, this action cannot be a coincidence and is associated with the current political situation," Beskrestnov said.

As reported by the Kyiv Independent on Oct. 12, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened Ukraine with the withholding of intelligence and other assistance in a bid to protect Russian oil refineries.

Beskrestnov did not provide evidence that the Starlink restriction was connected to U.S. pressure on Ukraine, and the White House has not commented on the issue.

Serhii Sternenko, an activist and former advisor to ex-Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, also reported the restriction of access, saying "SpaceX likely took these measures at the request of the Trump administration."

The threats came after a confusing 48 hours during which U.S. President Donald Trump announced a controversial "deal" with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import Russian diesel, followed by repeated demands that Ukraine replace Volodymyr Zelensky as president, followed by Trump announcing a unilateral "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine, which blindsided both Moscow and Kyiv.

Ukraine has since refrained from attacking Russian oil refineries but Russia has continued its blitz on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, most recently overnight on Oct. 14 when "several" power plants in Kyiv were hit. Trump has refused to accuse Russia of breaking the ceasefire.

The reported Starlink restrictions come as questions have been raised about U.S. intelligence sharing in relation to Russian ballistic missile launches, following two straight nights of attack on Kyiv with little to no warning.

Five Russian S-400 missiles struck the Ukrainian capital shortly after 10 p.m. local time on Oct. 12, causing "massive explosions," Kyiv Independent journalists reported. Air raid sirens and mobile alerts sounded only after the attack.

Zelensky described the strike as "particularly vile," saying Kyiv "received no early warning from our partners about this strike." His remarks raised questions about whether Washington had suspended intelligence assistance to Ukraine.

Despite the failure of Kyiv's early warning system and threats to halt U.S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine, Washington made no such decision, Ukrainian and American sources told the Kyiv Independent on Oct. 13.

But later that day, around 10:30 p.m. another wave of ballistic missiles hit Kyiv, again without the usual warning.

At least three women were killed, and another 24 people, including a 7-year-old girl, were injured as a result of a hit on a residential building in the Desnianskyi District.

"Ukraine did not attack Russian oil refineries, yet Trump has already begun imposing sanctions on my country. Meanwhile, sanctions against Russia have been eased," Sternenko said.