Ukraine needs a Starshield alternative. Can Europe deliver? | DW News

Summary

Ukraine says restrictions on Starshield have returned in Russian-occupied areas, making it harder to intercept fast, jet-powered Shahed drones launched from those territories. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the limits were not random technical errors and warned that more Russian attacks could get through, killing civilians. Kyiv says it is seeking clarification from the United States.

Military communications analyst Thomas Whittington says service disruptions and coverage limits have recurred during the war, but the exact circumstances remain unclear amid conflicting accounts from Ukraine and the United States. He explains that Starlink and Starshield are crucial for frontline communications and drone operations. In his account, Starshield is operated by the Pentagon, while Starlink is operated by SpaceX; responsibility for access therefore differs between the two systems.

Whittington says Europe has no single ready-made replacement. Eutelsat and other providers could contribute, but they have fewer satellites or require equipment too large for some drone uses. The EU’s GovSatCom initiative is already combining services from different providers, and he believes European industry could build a comparable system—but doing so would take time, investment, and political commitment.

In the meantime, Ukraine can use other communications methods during limited disruptions, though these alternatives may be less effective. A broad jamming attack would pose a more serious challenge.

The wider lesson, Whittington argues, is that governments should not leave vital military communications dependent on one company or individual. Governments can contract private firms to build and launch systems, he says, but should retain control of the resulting capability.

Presenters and Contributors

• Brian — DW presenter and interviewer; surname not given in the subtitles
• Thomas Whittington — military communications analyst, Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)
• Volodymyr Zelenskyy — Ukrainian president, quoted in the report