Billionaire Elon Musk urged Volodymyr Zelensky to resign as Ukrainian president and blamed the United States government for any delays in its satellite service in Ukraine, essential to counter the Russian missiles.
Zelensky on Thursday, the 15th, urged the United States not to stand on the side of the “aggressor” in the war against Russia, which invaded his country more than four years ago.
“We need HONESTY from our partners regarding this war: it is important that all of us in the United States stand not on the side of the aggressor, but alongside our efforts to protect lives, end this war and ensure security,” Zelensky wrote on social media, using uppercase letters in the style of the American president Donald Trump.
In a moment of rising tension, Musk echoed Trump’s statements, who also expressed support, over the weekend, for a leadership change in Kyiv.
“Time for Zelensky to go,” the tech magnate wrote on the X social network.
Without Zelensky’s resignation, “the massacre continues,” added SpaceX CEO, the company behind Starshield satellite services (intended for the Army and used by Ukraine in its frontline operations) and Starlink, limited to civilian uses.
Ukraine denounces restrictions on the use of Starshield, which hinders much of its air defense and drone operations. In addition, it questions American support for the country, devastated by more than four years of war.
“The Starshield systems are owned by the United States government and are under its control. Any bandwidth or usage limitation is decided by the U.S. Army and, ultimately, by the President of the United States,” Musk wrote on X to his more than 240 million followers.
Zelensky called on Wednesday for the restoration of the satellite service because “there will be deaths, of course, if the attacks continue and Starlink does not work.”
“I sincerely hope this is just a mistake,” he added.
“Inadmissible”
Trump faces an energy crisis a few weeks ahead of the midterm elections, on November 3, and is applying strong pressure on Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian oil facilities.
Additionally, he recently announced an agreement with Moscow to receive diesel and secure a price reduction.
A senior Ukrainian government official said, on condition of anonymity, to AFP on Wednesday that the United States threatened to stop sharing information with Ukraine if the country did not halt attacks on Russian refineries.
The Democratic opposition in the United States Congress denounced the restrictions on satellite network access imposed on Ukraine.
“It is inadmissible to restrict Ukraine’s access to Starlink and Starshield at a time when ballistic missiles and drones are attacking the country,” the Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee reacted on X.
“Trump makes a decision, and that directly helps Putin massacre Ukrainian civilians,” they added.
Attack on Russian refinery
Jeanne Shaheen, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, added that “the Pentagon is also obliged to inform Congress if it suspends or reduces sharing information with Ukraine.”
Russia accused Ukraine of an attack in the early hours of Thursday against a petroleum refinery in Ryazan, located 180 kilometers south of Moscow, a bombardment that caused a fire.
The attack occurred after Zelensky told the British newspaper Financial Times that Kyiv would resume attacks on Russian refineries.
Trump surprised everyone last week by announcing an energy cease-fire in the war. Ukraine supported the move, but Moscow remained silent and attacked Ukrainian power plants this week, which left hundreds of thousands without access to electricity, according to Kyiv.
Starlink is essential for Ukraine
Ukrainian authorities are concerned that US support, especially regarding the sharing of military intelligence and the use of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite communications system, may be at risk.
SpaceX imposed overnight a speed limit on Ukraine’s Starlink terminals installed on drones, Serhii Beskrestnov, Zelensky’s adviser, said on social media.
The restriction disrupted operations, making attack drones, which were flying more slowly, easier targets for Russian defenses. By the end of this Wednesday, drone operators reported improvements in data connections, with airborne equipment reaching speeds of up to 161 km/h, Zelensky said.
But a Ukrainian official said that this speed was still too slow to intercept jet-powered Russian drones and that the country needed all restrictions lifted. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential military details.
Musk stated on X that the military version of Starlink is controlled by the U.S. Armed Forces and by Trump. The Pentagon and the U.S. Space Force did not immediately respond to questions about any restrictions that the American military may have imposed on satellite communication services in Ukraine.
Starlink is a vital tool for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, in both offensive and defensive operations. The network is used for long-range drone missions, interceptor air defense systems, and frontline logistics, Beskrestnov said.
“Obviously, this action cannot be a coincidence and is related to the current political situation,” Beskrestnov said, without giving further details. The White House did not immediately comment.
