Ukraine accused Elon Musk’s SpaceX of disrupting its military operations Wednesday after Ukrainian officials reported unexpected interruptions to Starlink satellite internet connections used to guide drones. The allegations emerged as Russian missile attacks struck Ukrainian power infrastructure, killing civilians and leaving approximately 600,000 people without electricity.

The reported Starlink disruptions come amid growing friction between Kyiv and the Trump administration over the direction of the war, attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and negotiations over a possible ceasefire.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov said the country’s military had received no advance warning that SpaceX would limit the functionality of military-grade Starlink terminals operating at high speeds.

“Our defense forces did not receive a warning about this limitation, and this led to the disruption of several missions,” Beskrestnov wrote on Telegram.

Ukraine’s 7th Rapid Reaction Corps said Starlink connections could drop for 10 to 20 seconds when drones traveled at speeds of approximately 110 to 120 kilometers per hour. Although the drones continued flying during the interruptions, the loss of connectivity made them more difficult to control.

A source in Ukraine’s defense ministry told Reuters that the limitations significantly complicated military logistics and certain drone operations. SpaceX had not immediately responded to a request for comment, and the precise scope and reasons for the reported restrictions remained unclear.

Starlink has played a major role in Ukraine’s military communications since the system was activated over the country following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Its resistance to electronic jamming has made it valuable for battlefield communications, drone operations and delivering supplies to frontline troops.

Ukraine also uses Starlink to guide drones over its own territory, including areas occupied by Russian forces. Ukrainian drones attacking Russian oil infrastructure use other communications methods, according to the report.

The allegations prompted a public response from Poland, which pays for Starlink subscriptions used by Ukraine. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski challenged Musk on X, asking whether he was using his products to influence political decisions. Musk has previously traded insults with Sikorski, but did not immediately respond to the latest criticism.

The dispute unfolds as relations between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump become increasingly strained. Trump has urged Kyiv to stop attacking Russian oil refineries as rising fuel prices put pressure on the U.S. economy amid the conflict with Iran. He also lifted sanctions on Russian diesel last week and publicly criticized Zelenskyy.

Trump has said Russia and Ukraine agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure, but neither side had confirmed a mutual agreement. Russian forces nevertheless launched extensive attacks on Ukrainian cities and power facilities over the following days.

In Kyiv, rescue workers pulled injured residents from the wreckage of a damaged apartment building as firefighters battled a large blaze. Officials reported two people killed and 21 wounded at the site. Russian strikes also targeted power stations in Kyiv and Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, leaving roughly 600,000 people without electricity. Zelenskyy said more than 30 power stations had been damaged.

Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed strikes against four power plants in and around Kyiv and two in Kharkiv, among other targets. Ukrainian forces reported intercepting just four of 39 Russian missiles, underscoring the challenges facing the country’s air defenses as it deals with fast-moving ballistic missiles and drones amid weapons shortages.

Zelenskyy condemned the attacks as a deliberate rejection of Trump’s proposed energy ceasefire, writing on X that Moscow had shown “ostentatious disrespect” toward the United States. He said Ukraine was prepared to observe an energy truce but would not continue refraining from attacks if Russia continued striking Ukrainian infrastructure. The Kremlin said contacts over an energy ceasefire were ongoing.

The Starlink dispute has added another source of uncertainty for Kyiv as it depends on Western technology, intelligence and military assistance to sustain its war effort. Reuters and other news organizations have also reported that Washington has threatened to restrict intelligence sharing used to provide early warnings of Russian missile attacks in an effort to pressure Ukraine to suspend strikes on Russian oil refineries. Trump said Tuesday that the United States was still sharing intelligence with Ukraine.

With the battlefield increasingly shaped by satellite communications and drone warfare, any prolonged disruption to Starlink could complicate Ukrainian military operations at a time when Russian attacks are continuing to damage the country’s infrastructure.