Ukraine's Donbas offensive recaptures territory but US restrictions on Starshield cloud outlook

Ukraine's Operation Vivaldi counter-offensive has recaptured 277 square kilometers in the eastern Donbas region, inflicting heavy Russian casualties, but optimism is tempered by Washington's restrictions on Starshield, the military version of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite network, which Ukraine says limits its drone capabilities. The offensive, named for its four stages, blunted a Russian pincer movement threatening key cities, with Kyiv reporting 8,000 Russian casualties in Vivaldi and nearly 50,000 along the front in September. Ukrainian forces used drones and remote-controlled vehicles to free 16 settlements, with 250 Russians surrendering, though Russian drones remain a constant threat. Tensions with the US have escalated, with President Zelensky saying he felt "betrayed" by Donald Trump, who called him "harder to deal with" than Vladimir Putin. The Starshield restrictions, reportedly ordered by the White House, have sparked major concern in Ukraine, which relies on the system for interceptor and mid-range strike drones.