US Starlink Cuts Disrupt Ukraine Front-Line Artillery Units

The US decision this week to reduce Starlink services for Ukraine's military immediately disrupted communications and internet speeds for front-line artillery units in eastern Ukraine, endangering operations against Russian forces. Ukrlan, a 28-year-old soldier with an artillery unit in the Donbas region, told Reuters that connectivity with headquarters deteriorated significantly right after the announcement, impairing the ability to detect and intercept incoming missiles and drones. The White House ordered limits on SpaceX's Starshield system, a move Ukraine and Western partners say aids Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Friday that Starlink services had improved but not fully restored, putting civilian lives at risk. The restriction comes as President Donald Trump pressures Kyiv to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries, which he blames for rising energy prices ahead of November midterm elections.