Ukraine’s president has said it’s impossible to do an election as a point of security with drones swarming the country.

Responding to comments by Donald Trump and Elon Musk that he should step down, Volodymyr Zelensky said: “Each hour we have attacks. This massive attack that we discussed, it was about night. But during the day, the same drones are here; hundreds and thousands each hour attack. So that’s why, from a security, you can’t do elections.

“Then soldiers are on the front. We can’t choose the president without soldiers because they give and gave their lives. They are the first who have to vote, and I think it’s fair.”

Volodymyr Zelensky has said people were killed while Starlink has been down because they were unable to intercept drones.

“We use drones with Starlink,” he told Piers Morgan. “So it’s not about just just attack, as as I said, we didn’t didn’t attack their energy. It’s not about attack. It’s also about defending the lives.”

Elon Musk said on X that Starlink usage was limited to civilian or defensive activities and could not be used for offensive military action.

Mr Zelensky added: “So people were killed because not enough destroying, not enough interceptors, including interceptors with Starlink, which didn’t work, of course.”

Volodymyr Zelensky described the energy ceasefire as “the worst version of peace.”

He told Piers Morgan: “They wanted us not to attack diesel. My opinion was it’s not fair. Energy ceasefire, it’s okay, t’s understandable. I mean, it’s the worst version of peace. But anyway, it’s some steps to the peace.”

He continued: “We support it because we need our people to live to go through this winter and to stop the war. This is what we want.”

A Ukrainian presidential adviser denied on Wednesday Russian statements that Kyiv’s military struck Russian refineries earlier in the day.

Dmytro Lytvyn told reporters that Ukraine struck a data centre and another unnamed target but not refineries.

Elon Musk responded to Ukraine’s former ministry of defence as Starlink and Starshield are down in the nation.

Mykhailo Fedorov said on X: “Starlink connectivity at speeds of up to 160 km/h is being restored. Removing Starshield’s speed limit entirely is now critical for Ukraine’s defense. Thank you, @elonmusk. We hope for your continued support.”

Responding, Musk said that the Trump controls Starshield systems while Starlink was only for defensive activities, as he implied that it was being used for offensive action.

“Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS. Starlink is a commercial service owned and controlled by SpaceX.

“Usage of Starlink is limited to civilian or defensive activities and cannot be used for offensive military action, as doing so would be inappropriate for a commercial company.”

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Wednesday that Ukraine attacked two oil refineries during the day, in Saratov and Ryazan regions.

“We see no indication that the Ukrainian side is moving towards an energy ceasefire,” he said.

Andy Burnham pledged that Britain’s support for Ukraine “will not change” as he welcomed Volodymyr Zelensky to Downing Street on Wednesday.

The Ukrainian president received an unprecedented honour guard on his arrival at No 10, made up of troops from the Irish Guards, amid what the Prime Minister described as “dark and difficult days” for his country.

Mr Burnham told Mr Zelensky: “You have seen the solidarity and the support you have got from everybody here in Britain.

“We are behind you and that will not change.