After a massive Russian attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, people are without power. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this on Wednesday, 14 October, in a Facebook post quoted by the news agency Ukrinform. “Щонайменше 600 тис. людей зараз, на жаль, без електрики. Можуть бути й більші відключення,” Zelenskyy wrote, according to the report. Those affected were Kyiv, the Kyiv region and Kharkiv.
The president spoke of 39 ballistic missiles and more than 120 combat drones as well as loitering munitions that were used against energy and critical infrastructure during the night. According to his information, 26 elements of the power complex and four facilities of the oil and gas complex were damaged. “На жаль, є жертви і поранені,” Zelenskyy continued. Ukrinform reported, citing the authorities, that four people were killed and 27 injured in Kyiv in the combined attack.
The attack fell in a phase in which US President Donald Trump had proclaimed an “energy ceasefire” agreement between Ukraine and Russia on 11 October without warning. In his Facebook post, Zelenskyy called the Russian strike against the energy facilities deliberate and demonstrative: “Удар абсолютно свідомий і показовий масштабністю – такої демонстративної неповаги Росії до Америки ще не було.” Russia did not consider the American president’s statements to be strong. Ukraine accuses Russia of violating the agreement; according to information from Kyiv, Ukraine had not struck Russian energy facilities for two days.
Zelenskyy called on the USA and all states “хто не заплющує очі на реальність” to react harshly. He asked Trump to impose strong sanctions on Russia and referred to the recently passed and signed bill by Senator Lindsey Graham, which makes this possible and regulates it. He also asked for additional packages of interceptor missiles for “Patriot” systems.
Starlink restriction hits drone operations
Independently of the attack, the BBC reported on Wednesday that the US satellite provider SpaceX had restricted Ukrainian military access to Starlink. The president’s adviser, Serhiy Beskrestnov, known as “Flash”, confirmed to the BBC that SpaceX had limited the speed of Starlink terminals during movement overnight. The restriction affects the “military package” StarShield and sets the limit at 100 miles per hour. The defence forces had not been informed in advance, which led to the cancellation of several missions, according to Beskrestnov.
The former adviser to the defence minister and volunteer Serhiy Sternenko told the BBC that at a speed of more than 160 kilometres per hour the connection failed, which is why several important missions had to be cancelled. Drones operated at such speeds, and their missions, including against occupied territories, had been possible thanks to this connection. Later, Sternenko added that for Ukrainian operators the limit had been tightened to 60 to 70 kilometres per hour, which further restricts the use of terminals on drones and vehicles. Normal satellite terminals still work at present. Sternenko suspects that SpaceX acted at the request of the Trump administration.
The BBC recalls that the USA had already restricted the exchange of intelligence data and switched off Starlink in the winter and spring of 2025. Trump denies that the data exchange was interrupted. Western media had reported that the USA could suspend the sharing of intelligence data as a means of pressure.
What this means for Ukraine
The combination of attacks on the energy infrastructure and the restriction of satellite communication hits Ukraine in a critical phase. Power outages in Kyiv, the Kyiv region and Kharkiv affect hundreds of thousands of households at the start of the heating season. The damage mentioned by Zelenskyy to 26 power facilities and four facilities of the oil and gas complex is likely to determine repair work and thus the supply situation in the coming days. The restriction of Starlink, in turn, according to Ukrainian military personnel and volunteers, complicates the use of drones that are used for reconnaissance and attacks on Russian positions and logistics.
Whether the USA will respond to Zelenskyy’s request for additional “Patriot” interceptor missiles and tougher sanctions is open. The Ukrainian president is publicly counting on the pressure of Lindsey Graham’s law, which according to his words allows strong sanctions against Russia. To what extent Washington will make use of it, the American government has so far left open.
