European countries are already working to develop an alternative to Starlink – Zelenskyy
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Ukrainian soldiers with a Starlink terminal near Pokrovsk, April 2025 (Photo: REUTERS/Inna Varenytsia)
European countries are already working to develop an alternative to Starlink after the company imposed speed restrictions on its use by Ukrainian troops, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Oct. 17.
"As for an alternative to Starlink, first of all, we use Starlink and work with SpaceX. Unfortunately, there are restrictions, but we continue to use it. Europe sees this, too. So this is not just our problem. All of Europe has seen that Starlink can be controlled from the United States and that its speed can be restricted regardless of agreements and contracts. That means restricting security, because you rely on this service," Zelenskyy told reporters on Oct. 17.
He added that European countries were now raising the issue of developing alternatives to Starlink themselves.
"And they [European countries] are already working on it [developing an alternative to Starlink], they are already making progress, and they will succeed in this area. I can already see that," the Ukrainian president said.
Speaking to reporters, Zelenskyy also said Ukrainian forces continued to report speed restrictions affecting Starlink satellite communications terminals in Ukraine.
According to the president, Starlink terminals in Ukraine remain limited to speeds of 160 kilometers per hour (99 mph), beyond which they shut down, causing Ukrainian forces to lose drones that rely on the connection. Zelenskyy added that Ukraine had tested Starlink equipment in EU countries, where no such restrictions applied and the equipment operated at speeds exceeding 180 kilometers per hour (112 mph). He concluded that the restrictions on Starlink operations in Ukraine were part of a planned operation and said Ukrainian interceptor drones were currently unable to operate because of them.
Starlink restrictions in Ukraine
On the morning of Oct. 14, reports emerged of Starlink speed restrictions that disrupted several important military missions. The restrictions affected Starshield, a service used by Ukrainian military personnel.
Military personnel and experts reported communications disruptions and a possible impact on interceptor drone operations. An NV source in the Defense Ministry later confirmed that connectivity was restricted at speeds exceeding 160 kilometers per hour (99 mph).
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to SpaceX chief Elon Musk and called the Starlink slowdown "a big mistake."
On Oct. 14, Musk said the speed restrictions affecting the military Starshield service were imposed by the U.S. government, not his company.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he had not made the decision regarding Starlink service in Ukraine. However, The Telegraph reported that Musk had personally initiated the restrictions.
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