Carney Blames Starshield Cut for Ukrainian Civilian Deaths

Tensions between Kyiv and Washington have intensified over satellite access, with Canada joining the critique of a recent technical restriction.

Prime Minister Mark Carney stated on Friday that the curbing of Ukraine’s access to the Starshield network is directly resulting in civilian deaths.

Speaking in Istanbul, Carney questioned the judgment of the individuals responsible for the decision. He described the action as a move against a nation fighting for its survival against what he termed naked aggression.

Ukrainian officials reported early last week that they lost partial access to Starshield, the military-grade version of SpaceX’s Starlink system. Ukraine relies on this network to track incoming missiles and jet-powered drones, as well as to guide interceptors and surveillance drones. The commercial Starlink service continues to handle internal communications.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the restrictions have left Ukraine unable to track projectiles traveling faster than 160 kilometers per hour. He linked this gap in tracking to increased civilian casualties, including children, as Russian attacks have become harder to repel.

Carney agreed with this assessment. He said the restrictions have produced real and human consequences, labeling some recent deaths as direct casualties of the reduced capability. He cited a strike in central Kyiv that occurred within the previous 36 hours, describing it as a direct hit on civilians with no military target and immense suffering.

Disagreement persists over who ordered the cut. Reuters reported last week, citing two U.S. officials, that the order originated inside the White House. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Elon Musk ordered it personally. Musk maintains that the U.S. government owns and controls Starshield and that President Donald Trump holds final decision power. Trump denied ordering the curbs on Friday, saying he did not know who was responsible and would not reveal it even if he did.

The status of the fix remains disputed. Trump said on Thursday that Musk had restored access. Zelenskyy contradicted this in a CNN interview, stating that the system still does not work. Ukrainian military officials confirmed on Friday that the restrictions remain in place. In an NBC interview on Sunday, Zelenskyy said he believes the U.S. government sent the message to limit speed, which SpaceX then executed technically.

Zelenskyy is moving to reduce dependence 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. Carney used the situation to argue for diversifying Canada’s own capabilities, noting the risk of relying on an ally that may change its views.