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Ukraine hits Russian refinery as Starlink satellite services are restored - Axios

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Ukraine hits Russian refinery as Starlink satellite services are restored - Axios
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Ukraine's Starlink and Starshield satellite services have been restored to full capacity after being unexpectedly throttled this week, as Kyiv carried out an overnight strike on a Russian oil refinery despite President Trump's demand that it stop. The developments add to mounting strains in U.S.-Ukraine relations following Washington's decision to lift sanctions on Russian oil sales.

Ukraine hits Russian refinery as Starlink satellite services are restored

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Ukraine hits Russian refinery as Starlink satellite services are restored

* Barak Ravid

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!Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reacts during a meeting with Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Oct. 14, 2026 in London.

*Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reacts during a meeting with Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Oct. 14, 2026 in London. Photo: Henry Nicholls-WPA Pool/Getty Images*

Ukraine's Starlink and Starshield satellite services — critical tools in its war against Russia that were unexpectedly throttled this week — have been restored to full capacity, a Ukrainian official tells Axios.

* The official also said that Ukraine conducted a strike overnight against a Russian oil refinery — defying President Trump's demand that it stop hitting those facilities.

**Why it matters:** The twin developments further strained the U.S.-Ukraine relationship, as the war with Russia drags on and the Trump administration sided with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week by lifting sanctions on Russian oil sales.

**State of play:** The move angered Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky responded by calling it "a weak decision" and a "gift to Putin." Trump then called for Ukraine to elect a new president.

* The crisis intensified this week when Elon Musk's SpaceX restricted service of Starlink — a satellite service used for defensive purposes in battle — while Starshield, a tool used for offensive war operations that is controlled by the U.S. government, was also slowed.
* After more than a day, the services were restored. Ukraine, meanwhile, fired on a Russian oil refinery, which U.S. officials are unlikely to look kindly upon.
* The Ukrainian official said the country resumed strikes because Russia continued to hit Ukrainian energy infrastructure, despite Trump announcing that the two sides had agreed to a ceasefire.
* That declaration came as a surprise to Zelensky.

**The bottom line:** It's still unclear to many inside the Trump administration and the Ukrainian government whether Trump ordered the satellite restrictions or not.

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