How reliant is Ukraine on the US-controlled Starlink internet service?
Kyiv keeps issuing warnings that the satellite internet system Starlink is being restricted in Ukraine. How dependent is the country on the system, and what would happen if it went down?
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has made the Starlink satellite internet service a crucial component of the Ukrainian armed forces' communications, reconnaissance, and drone operations. Concerns are growing that this US-controlled service may face restrictions or even be shut down by Elon Musk's company, SpaceX. Ukraine has extensively utilized Starlink since the 2022 invasion, with around 50,000 terminals in use as of 2025.
These devices enable communication and data exchange, even in the absence of destroyed infrastructure or functioning cellphone networks. Starlink's importance stems from its utility during the initial stages of the war when it replaced the previously favored KA-SAT satellite system, which was targeted in a cyberattack. Starlink and its military counterpart, Starshield, offer real-time video footage transmission and GPS coordinates for drones, targeting Russian positions, artillery coordination, and offensive operations.
Relying on a single provider may simplify operations but highlights the increasing reliance of modern armed forces on private technology companies.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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