Carney blames satellite network curbs for Ukrainian civilian deaths

Prime Minister Mark Carney stated on Friday that recent limitations on Ukraine's military satellite communications are directly contributing to civilian casualties. Speaking in Istanbul, he described the decision to restrict access as a critical miscalculation with immediate human costs.

The core issue involves Starshield, the military-grade version of Elon Musk's Starlink network. Ukrainian officials confirmed early last week that they lost partial access to this system. Ukraine relies on Starshield to track incoming missiles and jet-powered drones, as well as to guide interceptor and spy drones. Meanwhile, the commercial Starlink system manages essential internal communications for the country.

The origin of the restriction order remains a subject of public dispute. Reuters reported last week, citing two U.S. officials, that the directive originated from within the White House. Conversely, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Musk ordered the move personally. Musk has maintained that the U.S. government owns and controls Starshield, with the military and President Donald Trump holding final authority over restrictions. Trump has denied giving the order, saying on Friday that he does not know who was responsible and would not speculate even if he did.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the operational impact of these curbs. He reported that since the restrictions began, Ukraine has been unable to track drones and missiles traveling at speeds exceeding 160 kilometres per hour. This limitation has complicated the defense against Russian missile and jet drone attacks, which Zelenskyy says has led to civilian deaths, including those of children.

Carney echoed these concerns, noting that the restrictions appear to have real and human consequences. He suggested that some recent fatalities are direct casualties of this reduced capability. The prime minister specifically referenced an attack in central Kyiv that occurred within the previous 36 hours. He described it as a direct strike on citizens with no military or quasi-military target, citing immense human suffering.

There is conflicting information regarding the current status of the service. Trump said on Thursday that Musk had restored Ukraine's access. However, Zelenskyy contradicted this in a CNN interview, stating that the system still does not work. Ukrainian military officials also confirmed on Friday that the restrictions remain in place. In an NBC interview, Zelenskyy said that he and his government believe the U.S. government sent a message to limit speed, which SpaceX then implemented technically.

These developments occur during a period of strain in relations between Kyiv and Washington. Trump is pushing Ukraine to accept stronger concessions in a potential peace deal and has urged Kyiv to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries. Notably, Starshield is not used for drones targeting refineries because the system does not operate over Russian territory.

Carney used the situation to underscore the risks of over-reliance on a single ally whose views may shift. He noted that Canada must diversify its partnerships and build sovereign capabilities, a process that will take time given the country's current high reliance on external systems. In response, Zelenskyy is already moving to reduce Ukraine's 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.