Ukraine, Kyiv disputes Musk’s Starlink claims as peace talks resume in November

Kyiv contests Starlink allegations

Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, disputed Musk’s claim that Ukraine’s military violated Starlink’s terms of use. The dispute came as restrictions limited Kyiv’s access to the satellite system.

Beskrestnov said those restrictions would have made the type of strikes he described physically impossible. He also said Starlink’s civilian system in Ukraine does not operate over Russian territory.

Zelensky points to November talks

Zelensky said a three-way meeting involving officials from Ukraine, Russia and the United States would take place in November. In a post on X, he said Ukraine was prepared for talks between technical groups and renewed his call for discussions among leaders.

Ceasefire and competing claims

A localized ceasefire in Oleshky, a city in southern Ukraine occupied by Russian forces, is due to begin on 29 October. The White House said the arrangement would allow humanitarian deliveries and evacuations of elderly residents.

Melania Trump called conditions in the city dire and said her intervention was crucial to securing the deal. She faced criticism for not mentioning Pope Leo XIV’s earlier outreach to Russian and Ukrainian leaders.

Attacks reported on both sides

A Ukrainian drone attack overnight killed three people and injured 13 in the Russian border city of Belgorod, local authorities said. A further person later died in hospital, and a separate strike in the nearby village of Voznesenovka killed one person and injured another.

Russian strikes injured four people in Zaporizhzhia and two in the Chernihiv region, Ukrainian officials said. Russia’s defence ministry also said its forces struck a cargo vessel bound for Odesa and port infrastructure in the Black Sea, according to state news agency RIA.