Ukraine Accuses US of Helping Russia as Missiles Hit Kyiv for Second Night
KYIV: Ukraine accuses US of helping Russia by failing to warn it of incoming missile strikes and slowing the Starlink system its military relies on for battlefield communications, Kyiv said on Wednesday.
President Volodymyr Zelensky framed the lack of notice about a wave of powerful strikes on Tuesday night and early Wednesday as “completely unjust”. He also accused Russia of wilfully flouting a supposed “energy ceasefire” announced by US President Donald Trump.
Ballistic missiles have struck the Ukrainian capital for two nights running, before air raid sirens could sound to warn residents to take cover in basements, bomb shelters or metro stations. Energy facilities were targeted, cutting power to more than 600,000 people.
Ukraine accuses US of helping Russia: the intelligence dispute
A senior official in Kyiv confirmed that the United States had in recent days threatened to stop providing intelligence about Russian missile launches that Ukraine uses to thwart attacks. Trump denied doing so on Tuesday.
“It is obvious they [the United States] are helping Russia for some reason,” the senior official told AFP. A US official told the same news agency on Wednesday that its policy had “not changed”, while the European Union said there were “no indications” that intelligence sharing had stopped.
Trump on Tuesday insisted Washington was still helping Ukraine, deepening the dispute over what Kyiv says is a dangerous gap in early warning.
The Starlink row
Ukrainian officials and defence sources also suggested Washington was behind slower speeds reported on some Starlink internet terminals, which help Ukraine’s military hit Russian-occupied territory and operate interceptor drones.
Zelensky adviser Sergiy Beskrestnov said the attacks and the Starlink restrictions were more than a coincidence, describing the network as “the most effective solution” for protecting Ukraine against jet-powered Russian attack drones, which can fly at up to 600 kilometres per hour.
Ukrainian defence sources said SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, had “unilaterally restricted the operation of Starshield terminals… without prior warning”, hitting connectivity for its drones. Zelensky called on Musk to restore the system, and former Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov later said Starlink operation “at speeds up to 160kmh is being restored”.
Musk said any disruption was the responsibility of the US government, not his company. He drew a distinction between Starshield, which is owned and controlled by the US government for battlefield use, and the parallel civilian Starlink system, which Ukraine is not allowed to use for offensive operations.
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“Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,” Musk said, referring to Trump.
Zelensky replied in the affirmative when asked if he felt “betrayed” after Trump announced a diesel-supply deal with heavily sanctioned Moscow. “It is painful when President Trump chooses one side, not our side,” he said.
Why this matters for global energy and security
The row over intelligence and satellite links comes as the wider war reshapes global energy markets. Russia’s strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and the escalating confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz have kept crude prices high, with Brent trading above $106 a barrel this week.
Related: Two Ships Sink Near Hormuz After Being Hit by Projectiles
For Pakistan, which imports most of its petroleum, sustained high oil prices feed directly into petrol and diesel costs at home.
Related: Houthis Claim Aramco HQ Strike, Vow More Attacks on Saudi Airports and Oil Facilities
FAQs
What did Ukraine accuse the US of?
Kyiv accused Washington of failing to warn it of incoming Russian missile strikes and of slowing the Starlink satellite system its military uses, which it said helped Russia.
What was Trump’s response?
Trump denied on Tuesday that the US had stopped providing intelligence to Ukraine. A US official said on Wednesday that policy had “not changed”, and the EU said there were no indications sharing had stopped.
What is the difference between Starlink and Starshield?
Starlink is the civilian satellite internet system. Starshield is a related system owned and controlled by the US government for military and battlefield use. Elon Musk said limits on Starshield are decided by the US military and the US president.
How many people lost power in Kyiv?
Energy facilities were targeted in the strikes, cutting power to more than 600,000 people, according to the reports.
