Ukraine, heavily reliant on satellite communications from Elon Musk’s Starlink amid a war that has devastated its telecommunications infrastructure, is discovering that finding an alternative is no simple task.
As relations with the Trump administration sour, Ukraine has expedited efforts to explore other options in case Musk decides to cut off access. According to officials and military personnel who spoke with Bloomberg, European satellite providers are being considered, as is the potential setup of a ground-based network involving antennas, modems, and cables.
However, these alternatives come with challenges, and time is not on Ukraine’s side if it loses access to Starlink, they say.
Eutelsat Communications SA, a French satellite company operating the second-largest low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite service after Starlink, has emerged as the leading alternative. Investors seem to agree, sending the company’s stock price soaring nearly sixfold after a public disagreement between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House.
Still, Eutelsat’s CEO Eva Berneke told Bloomberg TV that her company would need “a couple of months” and financial support to supply Ukraine with 40,000 terminals to replace Starlink.
Although Musk has not indicated plans to withdraw Starlink, Ukraine is steadily losing ground to Russian forces and cannot afford to take its time in switching to another service. Additionally, the U.S. has halted military aid and restricted intelligence sharing with Ukraine as the Trump administration pressures Kyiv’s leaders to enter negotiations.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation, which oversaw Starlink’s integration, declined to comment on the matter. SpaceX, Musk’s company, also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Eutelsat, however, is significantly smaller than Starlink, with its 600+ satellites positioned at a higher altitude (7,000 km) compared to Starlink’s satellites.
“Because of its constellation’s lower capacity, Ukraine’s military would face limitations,” said Joe Gardiner, an analyst at CCS Insight. “Switching from Starlink won’t be as simple as just swapping out terminals.” There are also concerns regarding the less mobile OneWeb terminals, lower-quality equipment, and lack of compatibility with Starlink, he added.
Starlink has become crucial for Ukraine’s military operations, providing satellite communications for drones, aerial reconnaissance, artillery guidance, and maintaining connections between units. It’s also used in hospitals and schools close to the front lines, where traditional communication infrastructure has been destroyed. In areas like Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukraine has seized territory, the absence of Starlink is noticeable, and the military is keen to learn from these experiences, according to Mustafa Nayyem, a former Ukrainian deputy infrastructure minister.
“Of course, this would be a huge loss for us,” Nayyem said regarding a potential Starlink shutdown.
While the loss of Starlink would be “painful, but not catastrophic,” military and communications expert Serhiy Beskrestnov said the alternatives are more costly and slower.
Without Starlink, soldiers, like Ivan, an artillery soldier stationed near Pokrovsk, are forced to rely on makeshift walkie-talkies with upgraded antennas to evade Russian surveillance. “Without Starlink, it’s going to be bad,” Ivan said.
Even before the dispute between Trump and Zelensky, Ukraine was exploring backup options. There is growing momentum in Europe to reduce reliance on the U.S. for security. The EU is mobilizing defense funds to boost sovereign capabilities in the wake of Trump’s retreat from America’s commitments.
The European Commission is in talks with member states and industry partners to reduce dependence on foreign systems for security, according to commission spokesman Thomas Regnier.
Germany and the U.K. are leading efforts to support European allies and Ukraine, including providing satellite communications that could replace Starlink’s services, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Thursday.
Italy, which had been negotiating a deal with Starlink for secure satellite services, is now exploring alternatives with Eutelsat due to shifting geopolitical dynamics, Bloomberg reported.
Since the early stages of the war, Ukraine has relied on Starlink systems, initially donated by Musk and now primarily funded by Europe. Last month, Musk denied reports that the U.S. had threatened to shut off Starlink.
In 2022, Musk restricted Starlink’s usage to prevent Ukraine from launching attacks on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, fearing it could escalate the conflict. That same year, he also threatened to end Starlink funding after Ukrainian officials criticized his proposal to cede territory to Russia as part of a peace deal.
With reporting by Daryna Krasnolutska, Olesia Safronova, Michael Nienaber, Andrea Palasciano, and Gian Volpicelli.
