Ukraine military disputes Elon Musk claim it violated Starlink terms as CBC reports service limits

Ukraine rejects Musk’s allegation

Ukrainian officials disputed Musk’s assertion that the military used Starlink for offensive drone strikes. Musk said the service’s rules did not allow its use to kill people and that a loophole had been closed the previous week.

Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy known as Flash, said Ukraine could not use commercial Starlink for deep or medium-range strikes. He also questioned Musk’s awareness of the restrictions on Starlink’s operation in Ukraine.

Service restrictions disrupt missions

Restrictions imposed last week on Starshield alarmed Ukrainian military and government officials. Commanders reported that drones were lost and missions disrupted. Questions persisted about who ordered interruptions to the satellite internet system, which Kyiv has relied on for years in its efforts to counter Moscow’s attacks. U.S. President Donald Trump said he had not made the decision, while Vice-President JD Vance hinted at White House co-ordination with Musk.

Attacks hit regions and facilities

The strike also damaged a nearby care home, prompting emergency crews to evacuate 15 elderly residents. Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces targeted sites in and around Kharkiv, including a shopping and logistics centre it claimed held dual-use goods intended for Ukraine’s military.

Deaths reported after strikes

In Russia’s Oryol region, the body of a fourth victim was recovered from rubble a day after a Ukrainian strike on an industrial plant, local Governor Andrey Klychkov reported. Authorities had said three people were killed on Saturday.

On Friday, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to a localized ceasefire around Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region. The agreement followed efforts by first lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo.