Ukraine said SpaceX had restricted its Starlink services on Wednesday, disrupting military drone operations used for attacks and air defence. The development has raised concerns over US battlefield support as tensions between Washington and Kyiv deepen.

Russia launched another wave of missiles and drones at Ukrainian cities, cutting power to hundreds of thousands. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called the attacks “ostentatious disrespect” for US President Donald Trump’s call for an energy ceasefire.

Trump criticised Zelenskiy after lifting sanctions on Russian diesel to ease fuel prices that have surged since the US-Israeli war with Iran began in February. He urged Kyiv to stop attacking Russian refineries and called for Ukrainians to replace Zelenskiy.

"It's painful when President Trump chooses one side, not our side," Zelenskiy told "Piers Morgan Uncensored". He said he accepted Trump’s role as a mediator but added, "If you are in the middle, you have to stay in the middle."

Commenting on the Starlink restrictions, Zelenskiy said, "It's a big mistake ... This decision will bring a lot of human losses." He did not identify who ordered the restrictions.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said the US government controlled the system’s speeds. "Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS," Musk wrote on X. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Zelenskiy also rejected Trump’s suggestion that Ukraine needed a new leader. "It is a decision of our people," he said. "No Trump, no Musk, not anyone in the world can choose the president or elect in other countries."

Sources have told Reuters and other media that the US threatened to withhold intelligence on incoming Russian missile strikes to pressure Kyiv into halting attacks on Russian oil refineries. Ukrainian officials said they received no Western warnings for a second day before Russian missiles struck the capital. Trump said Washington continued sharing intelligence.

After talks in London with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Zelenskiy warned that Russia was exploiting the Starlink disruption. "It is clear that the Russians are trying to take advantage of the problems with Starlink in Ukraine as the operation of interceptor drones largely depends on that connection."

Burnham announced £45 million ($59.6 million) in surface-to-air missiles to counter Russian jet-powered drones. The package includes £10 million in urgent assistance.

Ukrainian military officials said SpaceX had begun interrupting military-grade terminals moving at high speeds without warning. Kyiv uses Starlink terminals in drones for guidance, including operations in Russian-controlled territory. Presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov said the restriction affected Starshield, SpaceX’s military and intelligence service, disrupting several missions.

Beskrestnov reported a speed limit of 160 kph (100 mph). A Ukrainian Defence Ministry source said some military units lost connections at less than half that speed. Kyiv is seeking clarification from SpaceX, Washington and NATO.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski criticised Musk, asking on X, "Hey, @elonmusk, big man, are you playing politics with your products again?" He added, "As your European customers, we are watching you."

Meanwhile, Russian strikes killed six people in Lutsk on Wednesday. Overnight attacks in Kyiv killed two people and injured 21, while around 600,000 people lost power. Zelenskiy said 30 energy facilities were damaged. Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed strikes on four power plants around Kyiv and two in Kharkiv.

Ukraine also struck Russia’s largest data centre while saying it was holding back from attacking energy targets to respect Trump’s call for a ceasefire.