Zelensky says US curbs Starshield access as Musk blames Trump
Ukraine's president says US restrictions on military satellite access are hampering warnings of Russian strikes, while Elon Musk says Washington controls the limits.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused the United States of restricting access to military satellites that Ukraine uses to warn of incoming Russian missile strikes. He called on Elon Musk to restore access to Starlink, while Musk blamed President Donald Trump for slowing down Ukraine's military satellites.
Speaking about the row, a defence expert at King's College London said US-Ukraine relations were in a rut. The expert compared the past 24 hours to the March 2025 Oval Office incident in which Zelensky was given a dressing down. After that episode, Trump suspended intelligence sharing. The expert said the current situation had not reached that point, but tensions between the two presidents remain, and the midterm elections could shape how far Trump pushes for a settlement in Ukraine.
The dispute centres on two different systems. Starlink is the largest satellite constellation in the world, with 11,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, and its main purpose is to give Ukraine and civilian customers high-speed internet. Built into the same infrastructure is a military-grade communications system called Starshield, which the United States uses. Washington has also allowed Ukraine to use Starshield in operations against Russia.
Ukraine says it is being stopped from using that system effectively. Musk has denied responsibility, saying the service is completely controlled by the US government and that Washington is putting restrictions on Ukraine's use of Starshield. The expert said the restrictions do not prevent Zelensky from attacking Russian oil refineries, but they do limit Ukraine's options for mid-range attacks and its defensive capabilities.
The row comes alongside separate criticism from Trump, who has blamed Ukraine for bombing Russian infrastructure and for high oil prices worldwide. Energy costs in the United States have risen by 20 percent in the past year. Much of that rise is due to Iran, but not all of it. Zelensky has been trying to pile pressure on Russia by attacking its oil refineries.
The episode also highlights how modern warfare is being shaped by private technology companies. The expert said the debate shows the difference between the democratisation of warfare, where individuals can make drones, and the privatisation of warfare, because armies still depend on space-based connectivity and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reported by all 3 channels | |||
| Ukraine reported that an unexpected reduction in Starlink service disrupted its combat drone missions. | Reported by BBC News | Reported by Sky News | |
| Only on one channel | |||
| Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he felt betrayed by Donald Trump after suggestions that the US administration was involved in restricting Kyiv's access to Starlink. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by Sky News | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The programme framed the row as a serious US-Ukraine diplomatic and defence dispute, with a studio interview rather than just a newsreader item. It stressed the technical difference between Starlink and military-grade Starshield and said Musk was pointing the finger at the US government and Trump. It also tied the restrictions to Trump's separate complaints about oil prices and to limits on Ukraine's mid-range strike and defensive options.
- “President Zelensky has accused the United States of failing to warn them of incoming Russian missile strikes by restricting access to military satellites”
- “Elon Musk saying well it's nothing to do with me this is completely controlled by the US government and it's them that are putting these restrictions on Ukraine's use of Starshield”
- “well clearly we're in a bit of a rut”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.