Photo: ERA
Kyiv, Ukraine – Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov has said that Ukraine is working to create an alternative to the Starlink satellite internet system. He said this during the forum “Ukraine. Year 2025” forum .
“As for Starlink, we are already working on it. There are alternatives. We are not disclosing any details yet, but in the near future, together with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Ministry of Strategy, the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces, we will announce how we will implement these solutions. But we already have a decision,”Umerov said.
Why does Ukraine need an alternative to Starlink?
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, SpaceX ‘s Starlink system has played an important role in providing communications for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, government agencies and civilians. However, repeated reports of restricted access to the network in areas of active hostilities have raised concerns.
Elon Musk has repeatedly mentioned the need to avoid using Starlink for attacks, which led to temporary network outages in certain regions, making it difficult to conduct hostilities.
What is the alternative?
Although Umerov did not disclose details, government sources suggest that Ukraine is considering several options:
– Own satellite solutionswith the participation of Ukrainian and foreign companies.
– Integration with other global satellite internet networks that do not have such strict restrictions.
– Creating hybrid systems that combine satellite communications and ground stations to provide uninterrupted access.
Safety comes first
Umerov stressed that the key criterion for the new system will be the stability and security ofcommunications, especially for military purposes.
“We must have a 100% controlled and secure communication channel for the Armed Forces. This is a matter of our defence capability,”the minister added.
When can we expect the implementation?
According to Umerov, more detailed information will be provided in the near future. The alternative communication system is expected to be available by the end of 2025.
