Europe cannot replace Starlink anytime soon, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned Friday, as disruptions to Elon Musk’s satellite network raised concerns over Ukraine’s battlefield communications.
“Starlink is really necessary for Ukraine and unfortunately in the short term Europe can’t replace this capability,” Kallas told reporters ahead of an EU summit attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine relies on Starlink and its military-grade counterpart, Starshield, for battlefield communications, mid-range strikes on Russian-occupied territory and interceptor drones used to shoot down Russian attack drones.
Starlink’s satellite network is unmatched in scale, while its business model and portable, affordable terminals give it a major advantage over competitors that rely on bulkier, more expensive equipment.
Kyiv reported restrictions on military Starlink connections this week, with Ukrainian officials reporting slower speeds on some terminals on Wednesday. Musk said any disruption was the responsibility of the US government, not his SpaceX company.
