PM Carney: Satellite Cuts Causing Ukrainian Casualties

Ukrainian officials report that they can no longer track aerial threats traveling at speeds exceeding 160 kilometers per hour due to recent restrictions on satellite access.

Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke from Istanbul on Friday to address the impact of these curbs. He stated that the decision to limit Ukraine's use of Starshield is costing lives. Carney described the recent strikes in central Kyiv as direct hits on civilians rather than military targets. He noted that these incidents resulted in immense human suffering within the previous 36 hours.

The Canadian leader questioned the logic behind the move. He said he searched for the right adjective to describe the decision-makers. Carney referred to a group of people who made the choice against a nation fighting for its citizens' lives against naked aggression. He confirmed that Canada is concerned by the developments.

Ukrainian military forces rely on Starshield to guide interceptor and spy drones. The system also helps track incoming missiles and jet-powered drones. Starlink, the commercial version of the same network, handles internal communications. Ukraine lost part of its access to the military-grade service early last week. This loss has complicated efforts to repel Russian attacks. Officials say the limitations have led to civilian deaths, including children.

Disagreement persists over who ordered the restriction. Reuters reported last week that two U.S. officials said the order came from the White House. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Elon Musk ordered the action personally. Musk maintains that Starshield is owned and controlled by the U.S. government. He stated that the U.S. military and President Donald Trump decide on such restrictions. Trump denied ordering the curbs on Friday. He said he does not know who did and would not reveal it even if he did.

Conflicting accounts exist regarding the current status of the service. Trump claimed on Thursday that Musk had restored Ukraine's access. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy contradicted this statement in a CNN interview. Zelenskyy said the system still does not work. Ukrainian military officials confirmed on Friday that the restrictions remain in place. In an NBC Meet The Press interview on Sunday, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian leaders believe the American government sent a message to limit speed. He stated that SpaceX carried out the technical implementation of that directive.

The situation arises while relations between Kyiv and Washington remain strained. Trump is pushing Ukraine to accept stronger concessions in a peace deal. He has also pressured Ukraine to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries. However, Starshield is not used on the drones targeting those refineries because the network does not operate over Russian territory.

Carney used the situation to discuss Canada's own vulnerabilities. He warned that relying on an ally that may change its view puts Canadians at risk. This realization drives decisions to diversify partnerships and build sovereign capabilities. Carney noted that this process will take time. He said Canada is currently highly reliant on specific systems located in certain countries.

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