Ukraine adapts to a future without Starlink

Ukraine is learning to fight without the support of Starlink, which has become increasingly unreliable. This shift is being driven by Elon Musk’s political inclinations and the latest disruptions to service in Ukraine, which have left both the Ukrainians and Europe facing urgent questions about how to move forward without it. Starlink, as the world’s largest communications satellite network, has typically supported high-speed Internet and data streams for any user or vehicle equipped with a relatively compact Starlink terminal. This support has enabled Ukraine to maintain vital communications for both civilian purposes and military operations, and has also expanded the Ukrainian military’s capability to remotely control or provide guidance to drones used in both air defense against Russian attacks and for striking back at Russian targets.

“Starlink currently offers some of the best satellite coverage available, with virtually no competitors when you consider the combination of cost, availability, and ease of use,” according to the head of hardware R&D at the Ukrainian defense company BlueBird Tech, who provided comments to Ars anonymously for security reasons. “In practical terms, the main limitation is the need to position the antenna so it can receive signals from the satellites.” The US government and European countries such as Poland and Germany have paid SpaceX for tens of thousands of commercial Starlink terminals to be sent to Ukraine, as well as covering subscription fees.

The US government has also given Ukraine’s military access to a military-grade version of Starlink known as Starshield, which Ukrainian defense companies can also test in their technologies in cooperation with the military, according to the BlueBird Tech representative. As Starlink has become increasingly unreliable, the Ukrainians and Europe as a whole are now facing urgent questions about how to move forward without it. This shift is being driven by Elon Musk’s political inclinations and the latest disruptions to service in Ukraine.