Ukraine has launched a fresh attack on Moscow after the country regained access to satellite communications
A major drone attack hit the Moscow region, according to reports, after Ukraine’s satellite communications were restored. Videos shared on social media show fires breaking out across the city, after Ukraine allegedly targeted industrial and warehouse facilities.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said Mr Hegseth had assured him that the vital Starlink satellite communications system was back up and running amid renewed tensions between the US and Ukraine.
According to two US officials and a Western official the order to limit the satellite system came from inside the White House, although Streeting said it remained unclear what had caused the disruption. Streeting sought to use his first visit to Washington DC as Defence Secretary to bolster ties that have been strained by issues including President Donald Trump’s stance on Kyiv and the widening US-Nato rift.
It came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited London and said Mr Trump had betrayed his country by limiting its use of US-made Starlink terminals which are vital for the Ukrainian military. Mr Zelensky also wrote in a post on X: “All of us in Europe want this war to end. And for that to happen, strong signals are needed – more real pressure on Russia and more defence support for Ukraine. It is especially important now to act together to protect lives.”
Streeting told the BBC on Thursday after a meeting with Hegseth: “Unsurprisingly we did discuss Starlink. It’s not yet clear to us in the UK what happened, why the service interruption occurred.
“But I am reassured, and was reassured directly by Secretary Hegseth, that the service has been restored. And that is a demonstration, I think, of the importance of the US contribution on intelligence sharing.”
The Defence Secretary evaded questions on what caused the disruption, saying instead: “This is not the first time we’ve seen a falling out between Washington and Kyiv. And as I said to Secretary Hegseth, in the words of Saint Francis of Assisi, ‘Where there is discord, may we bring harmony.’
“That has been the British approach in moments like this. That’s the diplomacy and the approach I’ve brought to Washington today.
“I’m here to solve problems, and the UK has been Ukraine’s number one ally. We will continue to play that role.”
There have been mounting fears over the United States’ commitment to Kyiv, with the Starlink disruption following Mr Trump’s move to ease sanctions on Russian diesel. Mr Streeting earlier made the case for continuing American support for Ukraine in a talk held by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies and the Royal United Services Institute.
He warned that if Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression was rewarded, “the consequences will not remain confined to Ukraine or to my continent”. Mr Streeting said: “Britain and America have never been content to simply watch history unfold. At defining moments, we have helped determine its course.
“The front line for freedom today can be found in Ukraine.”
He continued: “Ukraine may be thousands of miles from American shores, but if aggression is rewarded, if borders can be redrawn by force, if the sovereignty of nations becomes negotiable, the consequences will not remain confined to Ukraine or to my continent.
“So standing with Ukraine is not a choice between our values and our self-interest. It is a recognition that ultimately they are inseparable.”
Moscow Burns as Ukraine Launches Major Strike After Starlink Access Is Restored
Reports of a major Ukrainian drone attack on the Moscow region have intensified attention on the war between Russia and Ukraine, coming shortly after Ukrainian military access to Starlink satellite communications was reported to have been restored. The developments have highlighted the importance of technology on the battlefield, the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and the increasingly complicated relationship between Kyiv and Washington.
According to a report published by AOL on October 16, 2026, a drone attack struck the Moscow region, with videos circulating on social media appearing to show fires at industrial and warehouse facilities. The full extent of the damage and the precise targets involved were not independently established in that report. <Cite refs={[“turn177452search3”]}/>
The timing attracted particular attention because Ukrainian officials had reported disruptions to military-grade satellite communications earlier in the week. For a country that relies heavily on advanced communications technology to coordinate military operations, even a temporary interruption can have significant consequences.
However, the restoration of Starlink access does not, by itself, establish that the satellite system directly enabled the reported attack on Moscow. Ukraine uses different communications and guidance methods for different military operations, and the relationship between the two developments requires careful examination.
The episode nevertheless illustrates how satellite connectivity, long-range drones and international political decisions have become closely intertwined in the conflict.
Starlink Disruption Raises Concerns in Kyiv
In mid-October, Ukrainian officials reported that restrictions affecting military-grade Starlink services had disrupted some drone missions. According to Reuters reporting published on October 14, Ukrainian military personnel said connections could drop during high-speed flights, making certain operations more difficult to conduct. <Cite refs={[“turn177452search2”]}/>
Starlink, operated by SpaceX, has played an important role in Ukraine’s wartime communications since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Its satellite network has helped military units communicate in areas where conventional telecommunications infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.
The technology has also supported logistics, coordination and other military activities. Its importance has grown as both countries have increasingly relied on unmanned systems and electronic communications during the conflict.
The reported disruption therefore raised concerns about Ukraine’s dependence on technology supplied by a private company operating within a broader international political environment.
A Ukrainian Defence Ministry source subsequently told the Kyiv Independent on October 15 that military Starlink connectivity had been restored and remained operational. The source added that officials were continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the restrictions. <Cite refs={[“turn177452search1”]}/>
The restoration was welcomed by Ukrainian officials, but questions remained about the cause of the interruption and whether all restrictions had been lifted everywhere.
For Kyiv, the episode underlined the need to maintain reliable communications while exploring alternatives that could reduce dependence on a single provider.