Ukraine strikes Russian refinery as Starlink service restored

Ukraine conducted a strike against a Russian oil refinery overnight while SpaceX restored Starlink and Starshield satellite services to full capacity, according to a Ukrainian official told to Axios. The developments occurred against a backdrop of escalating tensions between Kyiv and Washington, with the U.S. administration recently lifting sanctions on Russian oil sales.

The restoration of satellite connectivity follows a period when Elon Musk's SpaceX unexpectedly throttled the services. Starlink is utilized for defensive purposes in battle, while Starshield, which supports offensive operations and is controlled by the U.S. government, was also slowed. The restrictions lasted for more than a day before the systems returned to normal capacity.

Simultaneously, Ukrainian forces targeted a Russian oil refinery, a move that defied President Donald Trump's demand that Ukraine stop hitting such facilities. The Ukrainian official stated that the country resumed strikes because Russia continued to attack Ukrainian energy infrastructure, despite Trump announcing that the two sides had agreed to a ceasefire. That declaration of a ceasefire came as a surprise to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The diplomatic friction intensified last week when the Trump administration sided with Russian President Vladimir Putin by lifting sanctions on Russian oil sales. Zelensky responded to that decision by calling it "a weak decision" and a "gift to Putin." In turn, Trump called for Ukraine to elect a new president.

It remains unclear to many inside both the Trump administration and the Ukrainian government whether Trump ordered the satellite restrictions that occurred earlier in the week.