{
  "id": 2780350,
  "title": "Ukraine and Russia seeking Starlink alternatives, says Zelensky",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/ukraine-and-russia-seeking-starlink-alternatives-says-zelensky-2780350",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-23T10:29:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/08/23/ukraine-and-russia-seeking-starlink-alternatives-says-zelensky"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ukraine and Russia are both working on creating their own alternatives to Starlink, the satellite communications system controlled by Elon Musk, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated. Musk limited Russian access to Starlink in Ukraine during the war, potentially disrupting their tactical command and offensive capacity. Zelensky revealed that Russia is teaming up with China to develop their own Starlink-like system, aiming to have it operational by December 2026. Ukraine, however, plans to implement a similar project with a European nation and is seeking authorisation from Musk and the US administration to utilize Starlink satellites in Russian territory. Musk's relationship with Ukraine has fluctuated since the invasion in 2022, with former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, now ousted, handling their communications. Zelensky believes that allowing Starlink coverage over Russia could shorten the conflict by limiting Russia's ability to prolong the war. Ukraine is currently targeting Russian ballistic launchers with Patriot systems, which are the only effective defence against these missiles.",
  "summary": "The Ukrainian president said Russia is working with China to develop the technology, while Ukraine is pursuing a similar project with a European country.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "RTE News",
        "title": "Zelensky says wartime elections would 'split' Ukraine",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/zelensky-says-wartime-elections-would-split-ukraine",
        "published": "2026-08-23T08:17:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ukrinform - Politics",
        "title": "Ukraine continues talks on using Starlink in Russia for long-range drones – Zelensky",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/ukraine-continues-talks-on-using-starlink-in-russia-for-long-range",
        "published": "2026-08-23T08:45:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ERR News Estonia",
        "title": "Prime minister in Kyiv: Russia shouldn't count on us tiring of Ukraine support",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/prime-minister-in-kyiv-russia-shouldnt-count-on-us-tiring-of-ukraine",
        "published": "2026-08-23T08:50:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Zelensky rejects wartime elections, says would ‘split’ Ukraine",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/zelensky-rejects-wartime-elections-says-would-split-ukraine",
        "published": "2026-08-23T09:00:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Ukraine: Zelensky asks for more Patriot interceptors as civilian deaths hit highest level since 2022",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/ukraine-zelensky-asks-for-more-patriot-interceptors-as-civilian",
        "published": "2026-08-23T09:05:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "'Hunting their launch sites' — Zelensky reveals new details about Ukraine's ballistic missile defense",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/hunting-their-launch-sites-zelensky-reveals-new-details-about",
        "published": "2026-08-23T11:11:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Egypt Independent",
        "title": "Russia likely to mobilize at least 300,000 more troops to Ukraine war, Zelensky warns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/russia-likely-to-mobilize-at-least-300-000-more-troops-to-ukraine-war",
        "published": "2026-08-23T12:57:47.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}