Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused US President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk of deliberately blocking Starlink satellite services in Ukraine overnight, resulting in the deaths of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians who were unable to defend themselves against Russian attacks.
The Zelenskyy Starlink Trump Musk betrayal accusation came during an explosive interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan, excerpts of which were released on Wednesday.
THE ACCUSATION
Zelenskyy was unequivocal when asked about the Starlink restrictions, which Ukrainian officials say were imposed without warning at around 1 a.m. local time. “I am sure they knew what they did, absolutely,” Zelenskyy told Morgan.
“Because it was 1 a.m. at night, Starlink was blocked by SpaceX and the United States”.
He described the consequences in stark, human terms.
“This decision will bring a lot of human losses. Of course, people will die,” he said. “It’s not just about attack. It’s also about defending life. So people were killed because, not enough destroying, not enough interceptors, including interceptors with Starlink, which didn’t work. Of course”.
“A BIG MISTAKE”
When asked directly whether he was angry with Musk, Zelenskyy said yes.
“It’s a big mistake. A lot of losses… this decision will bring a lot of human losses. Of course, people will die. If attacks continue and if Starlink does not work, of course,” he said.
He appealed to Musk to restore the service, expressing hope that the shutdown was an error rather than a deliberate act.
“Absolutely, I hope that is a mistake; maybe a huge technical problem, I don’t know. But we are asking to switch it on, and I think it will be… I mean, honestly, it will be fair, and it’s like between partners,” Zelenskyy said.
PUTIN’S VICTORY
Zelenskyy also addressed the Trump-Putin diesel deal, which eased US sanctions on Russian fuel exports. He said the arrangement represented a victory for the Kremlin.
“Now Putin is laughing because, I mean this is for him, simple victory,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the diesel deal.
He described the broader situation as painful, saying Ukraine was losing a strong partner in the United States. “It is a pity that we are losing a strong partner,” he said.
Zelenskyy added that the decision was “not the right side of history”.
THE STARLINK RESTRICTIONS
Ukrainian officials have confirmed that SpaceX imposed speed limits on Starlink terminals in motion overnight, disrupting critical military operations.
“Tonight SpaceX introduced a speed limit for the Starlink terminals in motion,” said Sergiy Beskrestnov, Zelenskyy’s technology adviser, on Telegram. “Our defence forces were not warned about this restriction, which led to the disruption of a number of missions”.
Beskrestnov said Starlink was “the most effective solution” for protecting Ukraine against jet-powered Russian attack drones, which can fly at up to 600 kilometres per hour.
“Through their actions, our partners are depriving us of one of the few chances we have to defend the country against jet-powered Shahed drones,” he wrote.
A senior Ukrainian official told AFP that the disruption “severely restricts logistics,” adding that the timing coincided with a Russian ballistic missile attack on Kyiv.
“It’s obvious they (the United States) are helping Russia for some reason,” the official said.
Ukrainian defence sources said SpaceX “unilaterally restricted the operation of Starshield terminals… without prior warning,” hitting connectivity for its drones.
THE CONTEXT: DIESEL DEAL AND ESCALATING TENSIONS
The Starlink shutdown and Zelenskyy’s accusations are the latest developments in a rapidly deteriorating relationship between Kyiv and Washington.
The crisis began on Friday, October 9, when Trump announced a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply Russian diesel to global markets, easing sanctions on Russian fuel exports to lower US energy prices ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
Zelenskyy condemned the deal as “a weak decision,” saying “gifts to Putin will not bring peace or any benefit to the civilized world”.
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Trump retaliated on Saturday, saying it was “time for Ukraine to get a new president” and accusing Zelenskyy of obstructing peace efforts.
“I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal because he could have made many deals and for some reason he never does,” Trump said.
On Sunday, Trump announced an “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine on Truth Social, claiming both parties had agreed.
Zelenskyy said he learned of the announcement from the media and that Russia had not stopped its attacks .
THE HUMAN COST
The Starlink restrictions had immediate and deadly consequences, according to Ukrainian officials. The speed limit on Starlink terminals in motion affected not only long-range missions and frontline logistics but also the operation of interceptor drones used to shoot down Russian attack drones.
Zelenskyy said the timing of the Starlink shutdown, at 1 a.m., coinciding with a Russian ballistic missile attack on Kyiv, suggested coordination between Moscow and Washington.
“Some restrictions were already being reported yesterday evening. So, in effect, it is happening in sync with this morning’s Russian ballistic attack,” a senior Ukrainian official told AFP.
WHY IT MATTERS
The Zelenskyy Starlink Trump Musk betrayal accusation represents the most serious rupture in US-Ukraine relations since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.Starlink is not a luxury for Ukraine.
It is the backbone of battlefield communication, drone operations, and air defence. Disabling it, even partially degrades Ukraine’s ability to defend its cities and soldiers.
Zelenskyy’s decision to publicly accuse Trump and Musk of deliberate sabotage is a dramatic escalation. It signals that Kyiv believes Washington has crossed a line from withholding support to actively undermining Ukraine’s defence.
For Trump, the accusations come at an awkward moment. The diesel deal was designed to lower fuel prices before the midterms. Instead, it has triggered bipartisan criticism in the US Senate, outrage in Europe, and now a public betrayal accusation from a wartime ally.
For Musk, the Starlink restrictions add to a long history of controversial interventions in the Ukraine war. His company’s decision to impose speed limits without warning, at 1 a.m. during a missile attack, will be difficult to explain as anything other than a deliberate act.
ValidViewNetwork reports that Zelenskyy has demanded the restoration of Starlink services. There has been no immediate response from SpaceX or the White House.