Carney Says Ukrainian Deaths Are Direct Result of Curbs on Starshield Satellite Access

Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Friday that a decision to restrict Ukraine's access to Elon Musk's military-grade satellite network is costing lives. Speaking in Istanbul, he questioned the judgment of those behind the move.

"I search for the right adjective to describe whoever took this decision, or a group of people took this decision, against a country … that is literally fighting for the lives of its citizens against naked aggression," Carney said. "So are we concerned? Yes, we are concerned."

Ukrainian officials said early last week that they had lost part of their access to Starshield, the military version of Starlink, the satellite communications system owned and run by Musk's company SpaceX. Ukraine uses Starshield to track incoming missiles and jet-powered drones and to guide interceptor and spy drones, while Starlink handles critical internal communications.

Responsibility for the restriction remains disputed. Reuters reported last week, citing two U.S. officials, that the order came from inside the White House. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Musk ordered it personally. Musk has said Starshield is owned and controlled by the U.S. government, that the U.S. military and ultimately President Donald Trump decide on restrictions, and that commercial Starlink was not designed or authorized for military use. Trump has denied ordering the curbs. On Friday he said he does not know who did and would not say even if he did.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that since the restrictions began, his country has been unable to track drones and missiles travelling faster than 160 kilometres per hour. He says this has complicated efforts to repel Russian missile and jet drone attacks, leading to civilian deaths, including children.

Carney agreed, saying it "does seem clear" the restrictions have "real consequences, human consequences," and that some recent deaths are "direct casualties as a consequence of this reduced ability." He pointed to an attack in central Kyiv within the previous 36 hours, calling it a direct strike on citizens with no military or quasi-military target and "immense human suffering."

On Thursday, Trump said Musk had since restored Ukraine's access. Zelenskyy contradicted that in a CNN interview, saying "it still doesn't work." Ukrainian military officials also said on Friday the restrictions remain in place. In an NBC Meet The Press interview on Sunday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine's generals, government and he himself believe the American government sent a message to limit the speed, and that SpaceX carried it out technically.

The restrictions come at a low point in relations between Kyiv and Washington, as Trump pushes Ukraine to accept stronger concessions in a peace deal. Trump has also pressed Ukraine to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries, though Starshield is not used on those drones because it does not operate over Russian territory.

Without naming Trump, Carney said relying on an ally "that may change their view" puts Canadians at risk. He said that realization leads to decisions and partnerships to diversify and build sovereign capabilities in Canada or with partners. That will take time, he said, because Canada is starting from a position of being "highly, highly reliant on certain systems in certain countries."

Zelenskyy is already working to reduce Ukraine's reliance 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.