Canada's PM blames satellite speed cap for Ukrainian civilian deaths

Prime Minister Mark Carney stated on Friday that the restriction of Ukraine's access to the Starshield satellite network is directly causing civilian deaths. Speaking from Istanbul, Carney criticized the judgment of the officials behind the decision, noting that the move was taken against a nation currently fighting for its citizens' lives against what he described as naked aggression.

Ukrainian officials reported the loss of partial Starshield access early in the week. This military version of the Starlink system, operated by SpaceX, allows Ukraine to track incoming missiles and jet-powered drones. It also guides interceptor and spy drones, while the commercial Starlink service manages internal communications. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the limitations have prevented Ukraine from tracking objects traveling faster than 160 kilometers per hour, complicating defense efforts against Russian attacks.

Reports conflict regarding who ordered the curbs. Reuters cited U.S. officials who said the directive came from the White House, while The Wall Street Journal reported that Elon Musk ordered it personally. Musk maintains that the U.S. government controls Starshield and that commercial Starlink was not designed for military use. President Donald Trump denied issuing the order on Friday, saying he did not know who did and would not disclose the answer even if he did.

Carney described the impact of the speed limit as having real human consequences. He pointed to an attack in central Kyiv within the previous 36 hours, labeling it a direct strike on citizens with no military target. He described the event as causing immense human suffering and called recent deaths direct casualties of the reduced tracking ability.

Disagreement persists over whether the restrictions have been lifted. Trump said on Thursday that Musk had restored access, but Zelenskyy contradicted this in a CNN interview, stating the system still does not work. Ukrainian military officials confirmed on Friday that the limits remain in effect. Zelenskyy told NBC on Sunday that he and his generals believe the U.S. government sent the message to limit speed, which SpaceX then executed.

The dispute occurs during a period of strained relations between Kyiv and Washington. Trump is pushing Ukraine for stronger concessions in a peace deal and has asked the country to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries. Carney noted that relying on an ally that may change its view puts Canada at risk, prompting a push to diversify partnerships and build sovereign capabilities.

Zelenskyy is already 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 an independent Ukrainian satellite communications network.