Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told supporters on X that Russian forces are deliberately trying to take advantage of recent problems with the Starlink satellite service. He said the disruptions threaten Ukraine’s interceptor drones, which rely on the connection for real‑time guidance.
Widespread outages after massive strikes
In the early hours of Wednesday, Russia launched a coordinated barrage of 39 ballistic missiles and more than 120 attack drones against energy infrastructure in Kyiv, the surrounding region and Kharkiv. Ukrainian officials said the strikes damaged 26 power‑system facilities and four oil‑and‑gas sites, leaving at least 600,000 people without electricity.
Additional attacks later in the day hit the city of Lutsk, where a Shahed drone struck a residential building and a store, killing six people and injuring 13. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry confirmed the casualties and described the wave of drone attacks as “deliberate pressure” on civilian life.
Starlink’s role and U.S. oversight
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk responded on X, noting that the Starshield system – the military‑grade version of the satellite network – is owned and controlled by the U.S. government. He said any limits on speed or usage are set by the U.S. military and ultimately the President.
Musk also clarified that the commercial Starlink service is owned by SpaceX and is intended for civilian or defensive use only. He warned that employing the network for offensive military actions would be inappropriate for a commercial company.
Calls for stronger U.S. support
Zelenskyy urged the United States to impose tougher sanctions on Russia and to provide additional Patriot missile interceptors to help defend Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. He also highlighted that the recent attacks came despite a cease‑fire announced by the U.S. president, which Russia appears to be ignoring.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense echoed the president’s figures, confirming the scale of the missile and drone assault and the resulting power outages. The ministry added that civilian casualties were reported in the Kyiv, Dnipro and Khmelnytskyi regions.
Impact on civilians and recovery efforts
Beyond the loss of electricity, the strikes have caused damage to homes, schools and businesses, compounding the humanitarian toll on the population. Recovery crews are working around the clock to restore power and repair damaged facilities, but officials warned that further outages could occur as the conflict continues.
Ukrainian officials also noted that, unlike previous weeks, Ukraine has not targeted Russian oil refineries or energy sites for two days following the U.S. president’s call for an energy cease‑fire.
International response
Western allies have condemned the attacks and reiterated support for Ukraine’s right to defend itself. The United States has signaled willingness to increase defensive aid, though specific details on additional Patriot systems remain under discussion.
As the situation develops, Ukrainian leaders continue to call on the international community to stand firm against Russian aggression and to ensure that critical communications, including satellite services, remain available for defensive purposes.
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
