Zelensky adviser: US limits on intelligence sharing are costing lives
Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, told the BBC that Kyiv still lacks reliable US warnings of Russian attacks and that people have died. The White House says nothing has changed in intelligence sharing.
Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has told the BBC that Kyiv still does not receive reliable US warnings of incoming Russian attacks. In his account, people have died because citizens could not be alerted in time to ballistic missile strikes. The dispute over intelligence and the Starlink satellite internet network comes as relations between Kyiv and Donald Trump's administration have fallen to new lows over a row about a US deal tied to Russian oil imports.
Warnings late or missing
Ukraine first reported an interruption to US intelligence sharing last week. On Monday, Zelensky wrote on social media that two ballistic missile attacks hit the capital overnight: one came with no warning, the other with only minimal time to reach shelter. In an NBC interview, he said sharing had been restored after a three-day pause and thanked the US.
Beskrestnov said the information remains incomplete and inconsistent: sometimes it arrives before an attack, sometimes not, and last night it came one minute beforehand. He stressed that other intelligence continues to flow and the problem concerns only the air raid alert component.
Starlink restrictions
The adviser said there is still no clarity on who is responsible for restrictions on Starlink and its military service Starshield, which Ukraine uses to connect drones, helicopters and military communications. Last week Starshield capped the speed at which mobile units can stay connected at 160km/h (100mph), limiting Ukraine's ability to shoot down drones and launch mid-range drone strikes into Russian-occupied areas. Starlink owner Elon Musk said the US government ultimately controls Starshield access; Trump has denied involvement.
Beskrestnov thinks the simultaneous problems are probably a deliberate move to pressure Ukraine into negotiating with Russia. Ukraine uses its own radar data for limited warning and is urgently seeking alternative communication systems.
US response
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied there had been a pause in intelligence sharing and cited a software problem in Ukraine's early warning system. A White House official also said there were no changes.
