Carney Blames Satellite Cuts for Ukrainian Losses

Prime Minister Mark Carney asserted on Friday that the recent limitation on Ukraine's use of military grade satellite systems is resulting in a tangible loss of life. Speaking from Istanbul, he expressed significant doubt regarding the strategic thinking behind the decision to curtail access to the network. Carney described the move as an action taken against a nation that is actively defending its population against aggressive military force. He noted that the Canadian government shares the concern felt by many regarding the implications of this restriction.

Ukrainian authorities reported earlier in the week that they had lost partial access to Starshield. This system represents the military version of Starlink, a satellite communication platform owned and operated by SpaceX, the company led by Elon Musk. Ukraine utilizes Starshield for critical defense functions, such as tracking incoming missiles and jet powered drones. The system also guides interceptor and reconnaissance drones, while the commercial Starlink service manages essential internal communications for the country.

The source of the restriction order remains a subject of debate among various stakeholders. Reuters reported last week, citing two officials from the United States, that the directive originated within the White House. Conversely, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Musk issued the order personally. Musk has maintained that Starshield is owned and controlled by the U.S. government. He stated that the U.S. military and President Donald Trump hold the final authority on restrictions, noting that the commercial Starlink service was not designed or approved for military use. Trump has denied issuing the order, stating on Friday that he did not know who was responsible and would not speculate even if he did.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated that since the restrictions began, Ukraine has struggled to track drones and missiles traveling at speeds exceeding 160 kilometers per hour. He explained that this limitation has complicated efforts to defend against Russian missile and drone attacks. Zelenskyy stated that these difficulties have led to civilian deaths, including those of children, due to the reduced capacity to intercept threats.

Carney concurred with this assessment, stating that the restrictions appear to have real and human consequences. He identified some recent deaths as direct results of the diminished ability to track and intercept incoming threats. He specifically referenced an attack in central Kyiv that occurred within the previous 36 hours. Carney described it as a direct strike on citizens with no military or quasi military target, resulting in immense human suffering.

Conflicting reports emerged regarding the current status of the access. On Thursday, Trump claimed that Musk had restored Ukraine's access to the network. However, Zelenskyy contradicted this in a CNN interview, stating that the system still did not work. Ukrainian military officials confirmed on Friday that the restrictions remained in place. In an NBC Meet The Press interview on Sunday, Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian generals, the government, and he himself believe the American government sent a message to limit the speed, which SpaceX then implemented technically.

These developments occur during a period of strained relations between Kyiv and Washington. Trump is currently pushing Ukraine to accept stronger concessions in a peace deal. He has also urged Ukraine to cease strikes on Russian oil refineries, although Starshield is not used on those drones because the system does not operate over Russian territory. Carney noted that relying on an ally that might change its view puts Canadians at risk. He said this realization drives decisions to diversify and build sovereign capabilities in Canada or with partners. He added that this process will take time, as Canada starts from a position of high reliance on systems in specific countries. Zelenskyy is already working to reduce this dependency, having signed a letter of intent with Finnish companies Nokia and ICEYE on Thursday to develop a Ukrainian satellite communications network.