Ukrainians dying because US restricting intelligence sharing, Zelensky adviser tells BBC

Ukrainians are dying because the US is restricting intelligence sharing, a Zelensky adviser told the BBC

Serhii Beskrestnov said "people have already died" because warnings about incoming missile attacks were not available in time

Ukrainians have died because Kyiv is still not getting dependable US warnings about incoming Russian attacks, according to a senior adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov told the BBC that lives had been lost because there had not been enough time to alert people to ballistic missile strikes, saying: "It's dangerous... I think it's really very bad... People [have] already died."

The adviser also said restrictions on Ukraine’s use of the Starlink internet network were still in place.

The White House said there had been no changes to intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

Ukraine first reported a disruption to US intelligence sharing last week, as a dispute with the Trump administration over its controversial deal to import Russian oil pushed relations to new lows.

Even with denials from Washington, many in Kyiv suspect the Starlink problems are not a coincidence.

On Monday morning, Zelensky wrote on social media: "Overnight two ballistic missile attacks were reported on the capital, one without warning, the second with only minimal time to take shelter."

A few hours earlier, an interview the president gave to NBC was published, in which he said intelligence sharing had been restored after a three-day pause.

"We are very thankful for this," he said. "Only [the] United States has this unique intelligence to tell our side when Russia uses ballistic missiles."

But Beskrestnov told the BBC that American intelligence was still incomplete and inconsistent, and that the US had not given a clear explanation for the problem.

"This looks very strange," he said. "Sometimes we receive this information before the attack, another time we [do] not."

He added: "And for example, last night we received it, but... one minute before the attack."

Still, he said other cooperation with the US was continuing, adding: "Intelligence data keeps flowing, and the issue is solely with the air raid alert component."

Beskrestnov also said the US had offered no clarity over who was behind the continuing restrictions on the Starlink internet network and its military service Starshield, which Kyiv uses for drone connectivity, helicopters and military communications.

Last week, Starshield limited the speed at which mobile units could move while remaining connected to the network to 100mph (160km/h).

This has reduced Ukraine’s ability to intercept incoming drones or carry out mid-range drone strikes into Russian-occupied territory.

Starlink owner Elon Musk said last week that the US government ultimately controls access to Starshield, which was built for the Pentagon, implying it may be responsible for the restrictions. Trump has denied involvement.

Beskrestnov said he believed both issues happening at once was "probably" a deliberate effort to pressure Ukraine.

He told BBC News: "It's probably the United States trying to say [to] us, 'let's have the conversation, negotiation with Russia, you should find the compromise'."

Beskrestnov also said Ukraine had its own radar data that could provide some limited warning of incoming attacks, but it was urgently exploring alternative communication systems.

He added: "Now we understand that something begins to happen with Starlink, and we're not sure what will be the next step.

"We understand that we should be prepared for some problems in future. And now we're thinking about an alternative for Starlink, not only for air defence, for communication between our forces, between our staff, for civilians also, because we don't know what we should expect in future regarding Starlink."

Earlier on Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there had not been a "pause" in intelligence sharing.

"I don't know where [Zelensky is] getting these things or why he's saying these things to the press," he told reporters on Monday.

Rubio said he could not comment on the incident, adding: "I know a few nights ago there was a software problem involving their early warning system."

The BBC has contacted Starlink for comment.

A White House official said there were no changes to intelligence sharing operations between the US and Ukraine.

The official spoke on background to discuss intelligence matters. Trump is focused on ending the war, the official said, and added that the US has given more aid to Ukraine than any other country.