Ukraine's drone chief slams partners for using aid as leverage

Ukrainian Armed Forces Unmanned Systems Commander Robert Brovdi criticized partner nations for using Ukraine's dependence on their support as leverage, stating gratitude does not mean submission. He made the remarks on Sunday, October 18, in a Telegram post. Brovdi said attempts to control the scale of Ukraine's war effort and pressure Kyiv through threats damage partnership principles, calling such actions a betrayal of clear frameworks. He stressed Ukraine has nowhere to retreat and that choosing between unacceptable options won't solve the problem. The criticism follows October 14 reports of Starlink speed restrictions that disrupted military missions, with officials linking them to pressure over strikes on Russian refineries. Ukrainian authorities are negotiating with SpaceX, the Pentagon, and the US government to lift the restrictions.