The news for Ukraine is truly ominous.
The demand by Trump that Zelensky halt attacks on Russian refineries in the context of an energy ceasefire that he announced himself without an agreement with Russia and Ukraine, combined with the cutoff of intelligence to Ukrainian air defense by American agencies as well as the throttling of Starlink for the Ukrainian armed forces, spread panic in Kyiv.
Although the Americans maintain that they have severed neither the intelligence flow to the Ukrainians regarding Russian missile strikes nor the services of Starlink, Zelensky claimed that Trump betrayed him and picked Russia's side...
Indeed, Zelensky rushed to assert that Ukraine will strike Russian refineries again, a statement implying a complete rupture with President Trump... although he clarified that he could halt the attacks on condition of either an energy ceasefire or the supply of Patriot missiles...
Faced with these absurdities and blackmail, the Russians continue to pound Kyiv relentlessly, which faces enormous electricity problems ahead of winter, while in parallel they continue their advance in the Donbass and on the northeastern front, in Sumy and Kharkiv...
Reports even state that forces from North Korea are once again ready to engage in military operations alongside the Russians...
Zelensky's rebellion: We will hit Russian refineries
In a particularly sharp interview with the Financial Times, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, after voicing his discontent over the «dangerous» cessation of intelligence sharing by the United States and restrictions on access to the Starlink satellite internet service, maintained that Ukraine will resume strikes against Russian oil refineries.
This is a move that, if realized, will signify a complete rupture with President Trump.
«The restriction on attacks against Russian refineries has been lifted. We are done with that», stated Zelensky, noting that Kyiv does not wish to be drawn into a diesel deal with Russia.
Give Patriot
He clarified, however, that Kyiv could stop strikes against Russian oil refineries, on condition of either achieving an energy ceasefire or receiving missiles for Patriot systems.
«Do not involve us in diesel deals. If you ask us to help deal with the situation, of course, as partners, we will help. However, we will request an energy ceasefire. If there is no energy ceasefire and that does not depend on you, fine, then the question arises: can you give me missiles for Patriot?», stated Zelensky.
Trump betrayed me
In an interview on the online show on YouTube, «Piers Morgan Uncensored», Zelensky claimed that Trump betrayed him with the energy deal he concluded with Putin.
«It is sad that we are losing a strong partner», stated the Ukrainian president.
«This is our country, our body, our home, our children... That is why it is painful when Trump chooses one side. If you are in the middle, you must stay in the middle. Not on the wrong side», said Zelensky, pointing out that «this is not the right side of History».
Telegraph: Trump - Zelensky relations at an unprecedented low
Volodymyr Zelensky, through his conduct, drove his relations with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to an exceptionally low level, which had not been observed since the time of their sharp confrontation at the White House, writes British newspaper The Telegraph.
On February 28, 2025, Trump had sharply reprimanded Zelensky at the White House, when the latter had traveled to Washington to sign an agreement regarding the joint exploitation of Ukrainian mineral resources.
«Zelensky... led their relations to a level not seen since their clash in the Oval Office, in February 2025», the report states.
Earlier, British magazine The Spectator pointed out that relations between the two leaders have suffered such damage that restoration may no longer be possible.
Message to Musk
Zelensky claimed that Russian forces are attempting to exploit the disruption in the operation of Starlink by launching fierce air attacks.
As he said, Ukrainian forces use this specific software to defend against Russian Shahed drones with jet engines.
«It is a big mistake. This decision will cause many human losses... People will die», warned Zelensky, who stressed: «My message to Musk is completely clear. I hope that this is a mistake, a huge technical problem. We ask him to reactivate the service».
The response
Musk stated that Starshield systems belong to the United States government and are controlled by it, therefore any restrictions on their speed or use are the responsibility of the American military and the president.
He added that Starlink is a commercial service owned and controlled by SpaceX, while its use is restricted to civilian or defense activities.
Musk stated that Starlink «cannot be used for offensive military actions, as that would not be appropriate for a commercial company».
RBC-Ukraine: Starlink working normally
Starlink resumed operation in Ukraine, according to a report by RBC-Ukraine on Telegram, citing sources from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
«As of October 15, the operation of the military Starlink, Starshield package during motion has been restored and continues normally», the report states.
Axios: No involvement in Starlink
White House representatives had earlier stated to the Ukrainians that they exercise no control over SpaceX and have no involvement in the operational restrictions on the Starlink communications system in Ukraine.
However, Kyiv treats these claims with suspicion, assessing that the service restrictions represent a United States warning to Ukraine to stop strikes against Russian oil refineries.
This is reported by Axios, citing sources in Ukraine and the United States.
Yesterday, advisers to Volodymyr Zelensky contacted counterparts at the White House and asked whether the American administration had decided to limit the operation of Starlink and what could be done to restore the situation.
Ukrainian officials addressed similar questions to the CIA and the Pentagon.
Technical glitch
White House representatives assured Kyiv that they had nothing to do with the restrictions.
American officials attributed the problem to a technical glitch in the system.
One of the sources in the report stated that the administration of Donald Trump intends to contact SpaceX to ascertain exactly what happened.
Warning shot
However, representatives of the Ukrainian side suspect that the situation with Starlink constitutes a «warning shot» by the Trump administration, aiming to force Ukraine to comply with the American president's demand to end attacks on Russian oil refineries.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine announced that SpaceX continues to impose a restriction on the operation of Starlink, with a moving speed limit of 160 kilometers per hour.
This limit is significantly higher than previous ones, yet remains noticeably lower than the normal operational speed of the system.
The ministry noted that it continues to stay in communication with its partners and SpaceX, aiming to ensure stable service operation and prevent unexpected restrictions.
The 2 satellite systems
Ukraine uses two satellite systems:
SpaceX's Starlink: Used to secure communications, cover the needs of ground forces, support supply chains and logistics operations, and operate unmanned aircraft intended for intercepting enemy drones.
Starshield: Under the control of American authorities and used for offensive military operations.
Huge problems for the Ukrainians
As soon as SpaceX imposed restrictions on the operational speed of Starlink terminals in Ukraine, or more precisely, its military version, Starshield, setting the limit at 160 kilometers per hour, the Ukrainian armed forces faced a series of problems.
Russian military journalist Alexander Kots calls attention to this fact, pointing out that the first to sound the alarm were servicemen of the 7th Air Assault Forces Corps.
Ukrainians complain that they have already been forced to cancel part of their combat missions, while the use of middle-strike unmanned aircraft has become practically impossible.
Communication with drones is lost once they develop speeds of 110 to 120 kilometers per hour.
«Then, the baton was taken up by one of the main proponents of Ukrainian unmanned systems development, Sergey Beskrestnov (Flash). He recalled that the most modern high-speed Ukrainian interceptor drones use Starlink. These are the only ones capable of pursuing and catching up with versions of Geran drones equipped with jet engines», Kots points out.
Russia's lead
Developing his thinking further, he underscores that this is the natural consequence of an army's technological dependence on the will of another state.
«We have already been through this, when Musk introduced the so-called "whitelists" for Starlink terminals, essentially barring Russian users from the service. The consequences were unpleasant, but the military managed to deal with them. We shifted to optical fibers, created MESH communication networks, and are advancing the deployment of the Rassvet satellite constellation into orbit».
According to the journalist, there is no doubt that the Ukrainians will also find a way to overcome the problems, especially with help from Europe.
However, for now, Russia holds a lead.
It is vital to widen it and not allow the adversary to close the gap, points out Kots.
In conclusion, he clarifies that all the above applies only provided that restrictions on the operation of Starlink for the Ukrainian armed forces have been imposed seriously and on a long-term basis.
It is very likely, as he assesses, that Trump decided in this manner to «discipline» the insubordinate Zelensky, so that he watches his words and does not disagree with his superiors.
«Now the expired-term president will mobilize all his acting talent, pretend that he regretted it, pay a compliment to Donny, and promise that from now on he will behave properly. And Trump, who is particularly susceptible to flattery, will take back all the measures», warns the war correspondent.
Kyiv in the dark
Amid this climate, the Russian Armed Forces have been carrying out massive strikes for several nights against energy infrastructure and communications facilities in Kyiv, as well as in the regions of Kyiv and Kharkiv.
Analysts of the Military Chronicle channel on Telegram point out that damage inflicted on the energy system of the wider Kyiv region after the initial strikes was examined via surveillance and battle damage assessment systems and was likely judged insufficient to cause a generalized blackout.
For this reason, a second combined attack was carried out against combined heat and power plant CHP-5, distribution hubs, and key electrical substations.
Following the strikes, parts of Kyiv were left completely without electric power.
Particular attention is paid to combined heat and power plant CHP-4 in Kyiv, also known as the Darnytsia station.
It is the oldest and third largest cogeneration plant in the city, playing a critical role in supplying electricity and heating to districts on the left bank of the Dnieper.
The facility is located in the Dniprovskyi district, near the Chernihivska metro station and the Darnytsia industrial zone.
In Kyiv's energy balance, production is distributed asymmetrically: stations CHP-5 and CHP-6 covered the right bank and the northern section of the left bank, while southern and central areas of the left bank were served by CHP-4.
The destruction of the boilers and turbine units of CHP-4 will inevitably leave hundreds of multi-story buildings on the left bank without heat, shortly before the onset of freezing temperatures.
«Work may take three months»
The co-founder of the Kyiv Institute of Energy Strategies, Yuriy Korolchuk, confirms that strikes by the Russian Armed Forces on primary electricity transmission lines have created an enormous problem.
«We knew about this problem previously, but we did not publicize it. The situation changed with the appearance of the new drones. An electricity transmission line is not repaired simply by bringing in a crane and welding a new section. Work may take three months», explained Korolchuk, noting that electricity transmission lines essentially lack protection.
Particularly vulnerable are the eastern areas, toward which electricity is transmitted from other regions.
In Chernihiv, Sumy, and Poltava, all thermal power plants have been knocked out of service.
«Greetings» from Kim
The intensification of missile attacks against Kyiv coincided chronologically with reports of potential participation by North Korean missile units in combat operations against Ukraine, analysts write.
As early as August, Reuters, citing Ukrainian military intelligence, reported information on the alleged deployment of a North Korean unit in one of the regions of Russia.
According to this information, it involved approximately 90 military personnel, six launchers, and a stockpile of up to 120 ballistic missiles.
It is estimated that North Korean crews would operate within the framework of the Russian 112th Missile Brigade.
As noted, the key question is what role North Korean specialists can play in such strikes.
If reports of their deployment are confirmed, it will be interesting to see whether they use their own missile systems or are trained on Russian systems.
For Pyongyang, such participation, if confirmed, would hold significant practical value.
North Korean crews would gain experience in the operational use of missiles under conditions of countering modern air defense systems, including Western systems.
«We will simply cease to exist»
Amid this environment, the Kyiv newspaper Zerkalo Nedeli argues that public statements «in favor of peace» by several Ukrainian politicians, including lawmaker Oleksiy Goncharenko, had been approved by the head of Zelensky's parliamentary faction in parliament, Davyd Arakhamia.
«It was Arakhamia who organized the dissemination of views on the need to end the war. To stop the war, preserve influence, survive politically after Zelensky, and return to power under different political labels», the article states.
«A multi-billion hole in the budget reveals financial destitute. Nobody has calculated the length of the journey. Nor reserves of food and water. And this concerns not only our backpack, but also the backpack of our partners, who may betray us at any moment», points out the report, noting that the term «partners» does not refer only to the Americans.
Supporting Ukraine requires expenditures, while news of corruption and inefficient governance continues to emerge from the country.
«Ukraine is turning into an internal political liability for European politicians. Now, for partners, the issue concerns not only the Russian threat, but also the real risk of each governing faction losing power. Otherwise, we will simply cease to exist. As a state. As a people», the publication concludes.
Goncharenko (Ukrainian lawmaker): Let us stop this madness
«Should we not stop this madness unfolding today, as every day we fuel the spiral of conflict with the United States more and more? This is complete absurdity. While we are at war with Russia, we also want to clash with the United States. Where is the logic, finally? Is there any brain left at all?», stated the lawmaker.
He recalled that Ukraine lacks the necessary means to intercept Russian ballistic missiles, while without American intelligence services Kyiv does not even know which missiles are launched by the Russian army and when.
According to the lawmaker, claims that other partners could substitute for American intelligence services proved to be empty words.
Goncharenko pointed out that Kyiv is not merely in confrontation with American President Donald Trump, but with the entire Republican Party, whose representatives will continue to serve in Congress even after the elections.
«How will we manage to secure missiles, intelligence from intelligence agencies, money, and sanctions? Everything, that is, that we need to survive», asked Goncharenko, stating: «You are finishing off Ukraine. Our cities are being hit, power plants are burning, and you pretend that everyone except you is to blame for everything».
Bloomberg: Energy collapse
Power grids and the heating system in Ukraine find themselves in the worst condition of recent years, points out Bloomberg columnist Mark Champion.
«Ukraine's electricity grid and district heating systems are already in worse shape than they were at the end of previous winters, and this winter has not even begun», writes Champion.
In August, Ukrainian energy expert Yuri Korolchuk reported that large combined heat and power plants, which provide heating to entire districts of Kyiv during winter, could be restored by only 50% to 70% by the start of the heating season.
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