Carney Blames 160 km/h Tracking Gap for Ukrainian Civilian Deaths

Prime Minister Mark Carney stated on Friday that restrictions on Ukraine's access to Starshield are directly causing civilian deaths. Speaking from Istanbul, he criticized the decision-makers for limiting a nation fighting what he described as naked aggression. Carney noted that he struggled to find the right adjective to describe the judgment of those who imposed the curbs.

Ukrainian officials reported early last week that they lost partial access to Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink owned by SpaceX. The network is used to track incoming missiles and jet-powered drones, as well as to guide interceptors and reconnaissance aircraft. While Starlink handles internal communications, Starshield provides the critical targeting data for air defense systems.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the restrictions have blinded Ukraine to threats moving faster than 160 kilometers per hour. He said this speed cap has complicated efforts to repel Russian attacks, resulting in the deaths of civilians, including children. Carney agreed, describing recent casualties as direct results of the reduced tracking ability. He pointed to an attack in central Kyiv within the previous 36 hours as a strike on citizens with no military target.

Responsibility for the cut in service remains disputed among Washington and SpaceX. Reuters cited U.S. officials who said the order came from the White House, while The Wall Street Journal reported that Elon Musk ordered it personally. Musk has stated that Starshield is owned by the U.S. government, yet President Donald Trump has denied giving the order. On Friday, Trump said he did not know who was responsible.

Conflicting reports persist regarding the current status of the service. Trump claimed 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 restrictions remain in place. Zelenskyy told NBC that he believes the U.S. government sent the directive to limit speed, which SpaceX then executed technically.

The dispute occurs while relations between Kyiv and Washington remain strained. Trump is pushing Ukraine to accept stronger concessions in a peace deal and has urged Kyiv to stop striking Russian oil refineries. Carney used the situation to argue that Canada must diversify its partnerships and build sovereign capabilities. He warned that relying on an ally that may change its view puts Canadians at risk.

Zelenskyy is 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 a Ukrainian satellite communications network. The move aims to create an independent infrastructure for military and civilian communications.