Beyond Musk's Starlink, Ukraine plots its own path to satellite independence
Ukraine is exploring the development of its own satellite communications network to reduce its dependence on SpaceX's Starlink and Starshield systems, which have become critical to its military operations against Russia.The move follows restrictions on the satellite services earlier this month that disrupted Ukrainian military communications and drone operations, highlighting the risks of relying on infrastructure controlled by a private company and the US government.The Ukrainian military has signed a letter of intent with Finnish telecommunications giant Nokia and satellite manufacturer ICEYE to explore developing a sovereign satellite communications network that Kyiv would control.
The announcement, made on October 22, comes as Ukraine seeks greater control over the communications infrastructure it relies on for battlefield coordination, intelligence and drone warfare, as cited by Space.com.
"Ukraine needs secure, sovereign and high-performance satellite communications systems that it controls," ICEYE cofounder and CEO Rafal Modrzewski said in a statement."We have a proven track record of delivering sovereign missions at speed to help build that capability.
ICEYE has proudly supported Ukraine since 2022, and we remain committed to continuing that support today."The proposed partnership follows an October 1 announcement by Nokia and ICEYE that they would work together to help governments and defence customers establish secure, sovereign satellite communications capabilities.Starlink restrictions expose Ukraine's dependenceSince Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Starlink has played a crucial role in maintaining communications between Ukrainian military units.
The satellite network has helped sustain connectivity when terrestrial infrastructure has been damaged or disrupted by Russian attacks.Ukraine also relies on Starshield, a military-grade satellite communications system owned and controlled by the US government, for certain military operations. Its receivers provide communications links for Ukrainian drones, including those operating over long distances and deep behind Russian lines.
The system's resistance to radio jamming makes it particularly valuable on the battlefield.However, the country's reliance on these systems has left its military communications vulnerable to decisions made outside Kyiv's control.On October 14, Ukrainian soldiers and officials reported significant restrictions on their access to Starshield, with reduced connection speeds affecting drone operations and frontline communications.Ukrainian officials said the restrictions hampered efforts to intercept Russian attack drones, while some drones carrying satellite terminals reportedly lost connectivity and fell from the sky.Sources told Reuters that connection speeds had fallen to about 160 kilometres per hour or less, disrupting military operations.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said access to Starshield had been intentionally limited.
The restrictions raised concerns among Ukrainian and European officials about the consequences of depending on satellite infrastructure that Ukraine does not own or control.The Ukrainian defence ministry said on Saturday that its monitoring systems had recorded a return to normal speeds for Starlink and Starshield, with connections operating at more than 400 kilometres per hour."The Ministry of Defence's monitoring systems are recording a return to normal speed for Starlink/Starshield.
We are recording a speed of over 400 kph. The connection is stable," Defence Minister Evhenii Khmara told reporters.The ministry did not say whether the service had been fully restored. Neither SpaceX CEO Elon Musk nor the US government has acknowledged responsibility for imposing the restrictions, with both publicly indicating that any such decision rested with the other.Reuters has reported that the order to restrict Starshield came from within the White House.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he had not spoken to Musk about the issue but would resolve it if problems persisted.Musk and Washington's influence over satellite accessThe latest restrictions have renewed scrutiny of the relationship between SpaceX and the US government, as well as the extent to which a private company can influence communications vital to military operations and foreign policy.Musk has said that decisions about Starshield's use rest with the US government."Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately (by the president of the United States)."The episode has also prompted questions about the broader dependence of governments on SpaceX's satellite infrastructure, particularly when access can be adjusted according to US national security and foreign policy priorities."Unelected billionaires and private corporations should not decide what is in the best interest of America's national security," Democratic US Representative Jason Crow said on Friday, calling for greater clarity about the changes to Ukraine's satellite services.Halyna Yusypiuk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian embassy in Washington, said Kyiv wanted the service restored as quickly as possible."To have the service restored to normal speed as soon as possible, as the lives of our people depend on it," she said, describing Ukraine's priority.The restrictions have also strengthened calls in Europe for the development of independent military satellite communications capabilities, amid concerns that there is no viable short-term alternative to SpaceX's systems.US administrations have sought to control Starlink accessThe latest dispute is not the first time the US government has sought to influence the availability of Starlink in different countries.According to six former senior US officials cited by Reuters, both the Biden and Trump administrations have asked SpaceX to activate or restrict the service in various locations to support US foreign policy objectives.During former President Joe Biden's tenure, officials sought to prevent Iranian-backed armed groups, including the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon, from using Starlink terminals. They also pushed for the expansion of the service in Ukraine following Russia's invasion in 2022 and sought to make it available in Iran during protests in September 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini.Five former officials told Reuters that the Biden administration coordinated with SpaceX on several occasions to restrict access by US adversaries and expand connectivity for allies. Officials shared intelligence with the company about suspected Starlink use by the Houthis and Hezbollah through terminals diverted via intermediaries.In October 2023, during fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, US intelligence officials informed the White House that individuals linked to Hezbollah might have obtained Starlink terminals.Similar concerns emerged in Yemen in 2024 during a US air campaign against the Houthis. The administration subsequently contacted SpaceX to identify and deactivate the terminals, with at least some of them switched off, according to two former officials.The Trump administration also discussed activating Starlink in Iran following US-Israeli strikes in June 2025 and February 2026, a former senior Trump administration official and another person familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The move was intended to bolster internet access and communications for anti-government protesters.Neither the Trump administration nor SpaceX has publicly confirmed whether those terminals were activated. The Wall Street Journal reported in February that the US government had sent thousands of Starlink terminals into Iran.The earlier requests, which Reuters said were being reported for the first time, illustrate how successive US administrations have relied on SpaceX to help implement foreign policy decisions.ICEYE's existing role in Ukraine's defenceICEYE already supports Ukraine's military through its Earth-observation satellite capabilities. The Finnish company and its US subsidiary jointly operate a fleet of satellites in low Earth orbit that use synthetic aperture radar to collect information about the Earth's surface.Ukraine uses data from the constellation for intelligence gathering and military planning, giving ICEYE an established role in the country's defence efforts.The company has also attracted Russian attention. A Russian inspection satellite, Kosmos 2612, recently made an extremely close approach to ICEYE-X36, operated by ICEYE US. The purpose of the manoeuvre remains unclear, with possible explanations including an attempt to assess the satellite's capabilities, interfere with its operations or signal Russia's ability to approach commercial spacecraft.Nokia, meanwhile, has highlighted the importance of satellite networks in maintaining connectivity when terrestrial communications are disrupted."Nations need communications they can rely on in every situation. Satellite networks extend and protect connectivity when networks on the ground are disrupted," Mikko Hautala, Nokia's chief geopolitical and government relations officer and chairman of Nokia Defense, said in the October 22 statement."This makes them a key part of any secure communications system," he added. "Through this Letter of Intent, together with Ukraine and ICEYE, we will explore how trusted, sovereign satellite communications can strengthen Ukraine's resilience and give it control over the connectivity it depends on."The letter of intent marks an initial step towards exploring a Ukrainian-controlled satellite communications network. While the agreement does not establish a deployment timeline or confirm that a system will be built, it signals Kyiv's intention to reduce its reliance on external providers for communications that have become indispensable to its war effort.