A Ukrainian official has contested Elon Musk’s claims that its military violated the terms of use for Starlink’s communications system, leading to restrictions on Kyiv's access to high-speed satellite technology.
Having previously blamed the decision to throttle Kyiv's Starlink access on the White House, Musk said on Saturday that the Ukrainian military used Starlink “for offensive drone strikes to kill people”, in contravention to the terms of use.
Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to president Volodymyr Zelensky, rejected that claim, arguing the restrictions would have made it “physically impossible” for Ukraine to use Starlink in the types of strikes he described.
“It is very strange that Elon Musk is unaware of the operational limitations of Starlink in Ukraine,” he said noting, that Starlink’s civilian system in Ukraine “does not function over the territory of Russia”.
Ukraine said over the weekend that its access to high-speed services via Starlink and Starshield satellite communications had been restored.
Meanwhile, Zelensky has said there will be a three-way meeting involving US, Ukrainian and Russian officials in November.
In a post on X, Zelensky said Ukraine was ready for talks between technical groups, while also renewing his push for talks at a leadership level.
Six people injured in Russian strikes on Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia and Chernihiv
A Russian strike on Ukraine's southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia overnight injured four people, regional governor Mykhailo Semikin said on Telegram on Monday.
Another two were injured in Russian strikes on the Chernihiv region, Ukraine's emergency service said on Telegram.
Russian forces hit cargo vessel, Ukrainian port infrastructure in Black sea, RIA reports
The Russian defence ministry says its forces have hit a cargo vessel bound for the Ukrainian port of Odesa, state news agency RIA reported on Monday.
The ministry said it was transporting cargo for the Ukrainian military, without providing evidence.
Russian forces also hit infrastructure at three berthing terminals in the port of Chornomorsk, the ministry said.
Russia says Oleshky ceasefire could set precedent for more local truces
The Kremlin says a local humanitarian ceasefire agreed for the Russian-controlled town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine could set a precedent for similarceasefires elsewhere in Ukraine.
The ceasefire, announced by the United States on Friday, comes as residents of the town, controlled by Russian forces since February 2022 and located close to the front line, have reported a deepening food crisis with both sides accusing each other of blocking supplies.
The White House said first lady Melania Trump had "successfully secured" the Oleshky truce, saying she and her team had spoken "directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to define the terms of the localised ceasefire".
Others had previously called for a similar agreement in Oleshky on humanitarian grounds, with the Pope saying it could be a first step towards "dialogue and peace".
Ukrainian strike kills security guard in Russian industrial zone
A Ukrainian missile strike on an industrial zone in the city of Yelets in Russia's southwestern Lipetsk region killed a security guard and injured a paramedic, regional governor Igor Artamonov said on Sunday.
Artamonov said the security guard worked at one of the industrial facilities located on the site. The paramedic at the medical centre was taken to hospital, where she was receiving the necessary treatment, the governor said.
The governor did not identify the facility that was hit in the strike.
Reuters could not independently verify the report. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.
Russian attacks hit Ukraine’s Sumy region, leaving one injured and damaging civilian infrastructure
Russia says it hit two cargo vessels and Ukrainian logistics hubs
The Russian defence ministry said on Sunday that its drones had struck a cargo vessel bound for the Black Sea port of Chornomorsk in an overnight attack and another cargo vessel en route to the port of Odesa during the day.
The ministry said the vessels were being used to supply the Ukrainian army.Russian forces also hit a logistics centre, a distribution centre and a logistics terminal in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv overnight.
The ministry said the facilities had been used for storage and distribution of dual-use cargo for the Ukrainian military.Reuters could not independently verify the defence ministry's information.
Melania accused of hogging credit for Ukraine ceasefire
First lady Melania Trump is facing criticism for taking credit for a localised ceasefire in Ukraine without acknowledging Pope Leo XIV’s earlier efforts.
A ceasefire in Oleshky, a city in southern Ukraine occupied by Russian forces, will begin on 29 October, the White House announced on Friday. The deal would allow humanitarian aid deliveries and evacuations of elderly residents.
Melania called conditions in Oleshky “dire” and “on the brink of disaster,” claiming her intervention was crucial to securing the deal without mentioning Leo’s earlier outreach to Russian and Ukrainian leaders.
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Four killed in two drone attacks in Russia's Belgorod region
A Ukrainian drone attack overnight on the Russian border city of Belgorod killed three people and injured 13, local authorities said on Sunday, while a separate drone strike later in the day killed another person and wounded one other in a nearby village.
"Unfortunately, the death toll from last night's attack (in the city of Belgorod) has risen – another man who had been injured has died in hospital. This is a great tragedy for all the city's residents," Belgorod's mayor, Valentin Demidov, wrote on state-backed messaging app Max.
The overnight attack on Belgorod damaged 30 apartment buildings, 35 cars, four houses, three administrative buildings, eight commercial premises and three social facilities, regional governor Alexander Shuvayev said.
In a separate incident on Sunday morning, one person was killed and another injured when a Ukrainian drone struck a car in the village of Voznesenovka near the town of Shebekino, local authorities said.
Six people injured in Russian strikes on Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia and Chernihiv
A Russian strike on Ukraine's southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia overnight injured four people, regional governor Mykhailo Semikin said on Telegram on Monday.
Another two were injured in Russian strikes on the Chernihiv region, Ukraine's emergency service said on Telegram.
Russian forces hit cargo vessel, Ukrainian port infrastructure in Black sea, RIA reports
The Russian defence ministry says its forces have hit a cargo vessel bound for the Ukrainian port of Odesa, state news agency RIA reported on Monday.
The ministry said it was transporting cargo for the Ukrainian military, without providing evidence.
Russian forces also hit infrastructure at three berthing terminals in the port of Chornomorsk, the ministry said.