Canada Says Satellite Cuts Are Killing Ukrainians at Speeds Over 160 km/h

Prime Minister Mark Carney declared on Friday that civilian deaths in Kyiv are a direct result of restricted access to Elon Musk's Starshield satellite network. Speaking in Istanbul, Carney stated that the limitations have produced real and human consequences, specifically citing a strike in central Kyiv within the previous 36 hours as a casualty of the reduced capabilities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy provided specific technical details regarding the impact of the curbs. He reported that since the restrictions began, Ukraine has lost the ability to track drones and missiles traveling at speeds exceeding 160 kilometres per hour. This gap has complicated defense efforts against Russian jet-powered drones and missiles, leading to civilian casualties that include children.

The dispute over who ordered the restrictions remains unresolved. Reuters cited two U.S. officials last week who said the decision originated inside the White House. Conversely, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Musk issued the order personally. Musk maintains that Starshield is under U.S. government control and that the U.S. military decides on access levels. President Donald Trump denied ordering the curbs on Friday, stating he did not know who made the decision.

Carney questioned the judgment of the individuals behind the move. He described Ukraine as a country fighting naked aggression and expressed concern over the decision-making process. He noted that some recent deaths are direct casualties of the reduced ability to track incoming threats.

The status of the service is currently contested. Trump claimed on Thursday that Musk had restored Ukraine's access. Zelenskyy contradicted this in a CNN interview, stating the system still does not work. Ukrainian military officials confirmed on Friday that the restrictions remain in place. Zelenskyy added in an NBC interview that he believes the U.S. government sent a message to limit speed, which SpaceX then executed technically.

The restrictions arrive during a period of strain between Kyiv and Washington. Trump is pushing Ukraine to accept stronger concessions in a peace deal and has urged Kyiv to stop striking Russian oil refineries. Although Starshield is not used for drones over Russian territory, the timing highlights the friction in the alliance.

Carney used the incident to argue for greater Canadian sovereignty in defense systems. He warned that relying on an ally that may change its view puts Canadians at risk. He said Canada is currently highly reliant on systems in specific countries and must build partnerships to diversify its capabilities, a process that will take time.

Zelenskyy is already taking steps to reduce dependency on the U.S. network. On Thursday, he signed a letter of intent with Finnish companies Nokia and ICEYE to develop a Ukrainian satellite communications network.