Zelenskyy warns Starshield restrictions threaten Ukraine energy defenses ahead of winter

Starshield limits raise concern

Zelenskyy said Sunday that limits on Starshield, operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, are hindering Ukraine’s ability to intercept Russian drones. He warned that the restrictions could leave energy infrastructure more vulnerable ahead of winter, when Moscow has repeatedly attacked the power grid.

According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainian interceptor drones lose contact with their operators when traveling faster than 161 kph along the front line and over Russian-occupied territory. Without that connection, he said, they cannot catch Russian Shahed drones.

Zelenskyy said he hoped the restrictions would be lifted and instructed the foreign and defense ministries, along with the President’s Office, to work with the American side and SpaceX. On Saturday, he questioned whether the problem was technical, saying SpaceX appeared to have imposed the limits despite earlier assurances from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio about U.S. government control of Starshield.

Attacks reported inside Russia

Ukrainian drone strikes damaged two electrical substations in Russia’s Rostov region and killed a chief engineer, Gov. Yuri Slyusar said Sunday. Four people were injured when debris fell on their cars, and another person was wounded at a production facility in Troitskoye, he said.

Officials also reported a Ukrainian attack in Tatarstan. Nizhnekamsk Mayor Radmir Belyaev said an attack damaged the city’s industrial zone, injured six people and disrupted heating and hot water in some areas.

Black Sea and Baltic tensions

Niculescu said the incidents threatened maritime security and reflected the worsening situation caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine. Romania said it would work with allies to strengthen security in the Black Sea.