Zelenskyy says the disruptions help Russia kill Ukrainians and strike more accurately
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Nov. 12 that Ukraine’s military is once again experiencing “significant disruptions to Starshield’s operations over the territory of Ukraine.” In a post on X, he said the problem has been going on “for several days now.”
Zelenskyy said the disruptions are affecting operations “along the entire frontline and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.”
“Specifically, systematic speed restrictions are being imposed on Starshield, limiting it to 161 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour),” Zelenskyy said in the post. He said the Ukrainian military had investigated the circumstances and determined the restrictions “are not random errors but systematic speed restrictions.”
Zelenskyy said the slowdown is complicating Ukraine’s ability to intercept Russian jet-powered drones, citing “strikes that got through because our interception systems cannot reach sufficient speeds and are unable to intercept in time.”
“Unfortunately, this is helping the Russians kill more Ukrainians and carry out more accurate strikes against Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.
The post did not identify who is imposing the restrictions. Zelenskyy said Ukraine is “trying to establish all the circumstances with the American side.”
The statement came as US envoys met with Putin in Moscow amid ceasefire talks, which the Guardian’s live coverage of the day tied to a trilateral process involving Abu Dhabi.