Ukrainians Are Dying as US Warnings Fail, Zelensky Adviser Says
Story By Staff Reporter
Ukrainians have died because Kyiv lacks reliable US warnings of Russian attacks. That is the claim of a key adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Warnings arrive late or not at all
Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov says citizens had no time to take cover from ballistic missile strikes. “It’s dangerous… I think it’s really very bad… People [have] already died,” he said.
On Monday morning, Zelensky posted about two overnight ballistic missile attacks on the capital. One came without warning. The second gave people only minimal time to reach shelter.
Hours earlier, Zelensky had given an interview. He said the US restored intelligence sharing after a three-day pause. “Only [the] United States has this unique intelligence to tell our side when Russia uses ballistic missiles,” he said.
Beskrestnov says the US intelligence is still incomplete and inconsistent. He says Washington has not explained why. “Sometimes we receive this information before the attack, another time we [do] not,” he said. “Last night we received it, but… one minute before the attack.”
Other cooperation continues, he added. “Intelligence data keeps flowing, and the issue is solely with the air raid alert component.”
Starlink limits add to the pressure
Beskrestnov also says no one has clarified who restricts Starlink and its military service, Starshield. Kyiv uses both to connect drones, helicopters and military communications.
Last week, Starshield capped the speed of connected mobile units at 100mph (160km/h). The cap limits Ukraine’s ability to shoot down incoming drones. It also limits mid-range drone attacks on Russian-occupied areas.
Starlink owner Elon Musk said last week that the US government ultimately controls Starshield. He suggested Washington may be behind the restrictions. Trump denies involvement.
A deliberate squeeze, says adviser
Beskrestnov thinks the two problems are “probably” a deliberate move. “It’s probably the United States trying to say [to] us, ‘let’s have the conversation, negotiation with Russia, you should find the compromise’,” he said.
Ukraine has its own radar data, which gives limited warning of attacks. Officials are now urgently looking at other communication systems. “We’re thinking about an alternative for Starlink, not only for air defence, for communication between our forces, between our staff, for civilians also,” he said. “We don’t know what we should expect in future.”
Washington denies any change
The White House says nothing has changed in intelligence sharing with Ukraine. A White House official said Trump is focused on ending the war. The official added that the US has given Ukraine more aid than any other country.
Trump said on Monday: “We’ve given a lot to Ukraine. They’ve given us nothing.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also denied any “pause”. “I don’t know where [Zelensky is] getting these things or why he’s saying these things to the press,” he told reporters. He said a software problem hit Ukraine’s early warning system a few nights ago.
Many in Kyiv doubt the timing is a coincidence. Starlink has been asked for comment.
Deadly Russian strike hits Kharkiv region
Russian attacks continued late on Monday. Ukrainian officials say a drone strike near a park café in the north-eastern Kharkiv region killed at least six people. The dead include a toddler in her pram and an 11-year-old girl. The strike injured another 14 people.
Zelensky called the attack an “absolute atrocity”.
