# Zelensky's frustration over Starlink cuts > Ukrainians strike Russian refineries without Starlink as Zelensky warns of escalation. - Title: Zelensky's frustration over Starlink cuts · EUobserver - Summary: Ukrainians strike Russian refineries without Starlink as Zelensky warns of escalation. Ukrainian forces attacked Russian oil refineries and data centers… - Keywords: zelensky, starlink, ukraine, russian refineries, data centers, musk, starshield, u.s. military, russian attacks, ukrainian drones, energy truce, ceasefire - Source: EUobserver — https://euobserver.com/242927/zelensky-has-had-enough-ukrainians-strike-refineries-again-without-starlink-ukraine-battlefield-update-day-1694 - Published: 2026-10-15T15:32:06+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: zelensky, starlink, ukraine, russian refineries, data centers, musk, starshield, u.s. military, russian attacks, ukrainian drones, energy truce, ceasefire ## Zelensky's frustration Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he had had enough after Russian attacks during the so-called energy truce. > Zelensky has had enough after Russian attacks during the so-called energy truce ## Ukrainian strikes without Starlink Ukrainians attacked Russian military airfields and refineries using drones without Starlink connections. > Ukrainians attacked Russian military airfields and refineries using drones without Starlink connections ## Ryazan refinery attack Ukrainians targeted Ryazan refinery, a Rosneft facility with 17 million tonnes of oil capacity annually. > Ryazan refinery belongs to Rosneft and is one of the largest, with a capacity of around 17 million tonnes of oil a year ## Starlink speed restrictions U.S. military imposed speed limits on Starlink drones, cutting operations for Ukrainian forces. > U.S. military imposed speed limits on Starlink drones, cutting operations for Ukrainian forces ## Musk's role in restrictions Elon Musk claimed Starshield is controlled by the U.S. military, not SpaceX, for speed restrictions. > Any decisions on speed or usage restrictions are made by the U.S. military and, ultimately, the U.S. president ## U.S. military response The White House denied involvement in Starlink restrictions, urging Musk to investigate the issue. > The White House claims it had nothing to do with the restriction and wants Musk's company to investigate ## Ukrainian drone capabilities Ukrainian drones can fly up to 150 km and attack targets without Starlink navigation. > They use Hornet drones to attack targets at distances of up to 150 km ## Impact on Ukrainian operations Ukrainian soldiers reported suspended operations due to Starlink restrictions on drone speeds. > All operations have been suspended. It will cost many of us our lives ## Data center attacks Ukrainians damaged three of Yandex's six data centers in Russia, affecting services and AI systems. > They have already managed to seriously damage three of Yandex's six data centres ## Real-world consequences Russian internet services, banking, and transportation systems faced outages after data center attacks. > bus timetables disappeared in some cities; residents of some Moscow apartment buildings could not get through electric gates ## Supercomputers at risk Yandex's supercomputers, used for AI training, could take years to repair due to U.S. sanctions. > Yandex's data centres may not be restored until 2028 ## Escalation risks Attacks on data centers could paralyze Russian infrastructure and escalate international law concerns. > It may weaken the enemy's military effort, but it can also completely paralyze ordinary life ## Historical context Similar data center attacks occurred during Trump's war against Iran, disrupting military and civilian functions. > At the start of Trump's war against Iran, Amazon data centres in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain were hit ## Ukrainian military response Ukrainian forces continue strikes on Russian logistics despite Starlink restrictions. > Ukrainians said they destroyed as many as six Su-34M aircraft ## Zelensky's demand Zelensky called for a 60-day ceasefire for elections if Russia observes a 60-day ceasefire. > Zelensky responded that they would be happy to organise elections if Russia observed a 60-day ceasefire ## Current status Ukrainian attacks on Russian infrastructure continue without Starlink, escalating risks for both sides. > Ukrainian attacks on data centres hit Russia where it hurts ## Key takeaway Ukrainian forces attacked Russian oil refineries and data centers without Starlink, prompting Zelensky to demand a 60-day ceasefire for elections.