Europe lacks quick fix for Ukraine's Starlink reliance

Ukraine's military operations have been disrupted by unexpected restrictions on SpaceX's Starlink satellite service, exposing Kyiv's heavy reliance on US space technology and Europe's lack of immediate alternatives. The interruptions affected drone operations and raised concerns about missile early-warning capabilities. Ukrainian officials reported on Wednesday that Starlink's military-grade Starshield service experienced issues when terminals exceeded speeds of roughly 160 kilometres per hour, impacting reconnaissance and attack drones. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv received no prior warning from partners about Russian ballistic missile attacks for two consecutive nights, while SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stated the US government controls system speeds. Europe lacks a ready-made Starlink alternative, as Eutelsat's OneWeb network is considered outdated for frontline use and switching would require replacing thousands of proprietary terminals. European Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius acknowledged the continent's dependence on American space capabilities, but planned EU and German satellite projects remain years from operational status.