Zelenskyy says Starshield restrictions threaten Ukraine’s energy defenses ahead of winter

Ukraine’s president says restrictions on SpaceX’s Starshield satellite communications are disrupting the control of Ukrainian interceptor drones. He warned that weakened drone defences could leave energy infrastructure more vulnerable to Russian attacks as winter approaches, when strikes on the power grid pose a particular concern.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the interceptors lose contact with operators when travelling faster than 161 kph along the front line and over Russian-occupied territory. He called for the restrictions to be lifted and said Ukrainian officials would work with the US and SpaceX. Separately, Russian attacks damaged energy infrastructure in Odesa, temporarily cutting power to about 41,000 customers; Zelenskyy said Russia had launched more than 2,300 drones, 1,590 guided bombs and 15 missiles in the past week.