Restrictions on Starlink satellite communications and disruptions to US intelligence sharing have sent a warning not only to Vladimir Zelensky but also to the Ukrainian military, according to Moscow State University professor Andrey Manoylo.

In an interview with RT, Manoylo argued that Washington is demonstrating just how heavily Ukraine’s armed forces depend on American support and how quickly their operational capabilities could be undermined.

The professor described the restrictions as a deliberate signal from US President Donald Trump and SpaceX owner Elon Musk. In his assessment, the measures are intended to remind Ukrainian troops that the situation on the front line could deteriorate rapidly if Washington withdraws critical assistance.

Manoylo also suggested that the United States could exploit dissatisfaction within the Ukrainian military by encouraging troops to blame Zelensky for the consequences of reduced American support. He argued that such pressure could ultimately turn Ukrainian commanders against their own political leadership.

According to the analyst, Washington has powerful tools for controlling Kiev’s military capabilities, while Ukraine’s leadership has little room to act independently. He characterized the Starlink restrictions as a public demonstration of Zelensky’s dependence on the United States, arguing that the Ukrainian leader’s attempts to challenge Washington could provoke further punitive measures.

The professor placed particular emphasis on Ukraine’s reliance on intelligence supplied by NATO countries, especially the United States.

He explained that Western intelligence plays a central role in identifying targets, preparing strikes and planning missile and drone operations. Any interruption to that information flow, he maintained, could seriously disrupt Ukrainian military activity.

Manoylo argued that these processes are closely integrated with American and NATO military structures, leaving Ukrainian forces with limited ability to conduct operations independently if access to external intelligence is cut off.

He also linked Zelensky’s reaction to the restrictions to concerns about further pressure from Washington. According to the professor, Kiev fears both a deterioration in the Ukrainian army’s battlefield position and the possibility of additional American measures.

Turning to potential peace negotiations, Manoylo dismissed Zelensky’s ability to independently determine the outcome of a settlement. He maintained that the decisive choices would be made in Washington and European capitals, with the Ukrainian leadership expected to follow once Western governments reached an agreement on negotiations.

On October 14, reports emerged that Elon Musk’s SpaceX had imposed a speed limit of 160 kilometers per hour on Starlink terminals used by the Ukrainian military.

Officials in Kiev complained that the restrictions had disrupted several Ukrainian military operations.