Starlink outage in Ukraine exposes Europe's dependence on US satellites

The Starlink outage in Ukraine has further isolated Europe from the US, according to Bloomberg, exposing the continent's reliance on American satellite technology and intensifying debates about developing independent systems for critical communications and defense. The disruption affected Ukrainian drones, including those for strikes and intercepting aerial targets, while Europe lacks a ready alternative for frontline use. European countries also depend on US space surveillance for missile launch detection, creating strategic risks tied to Washington's decisions. The EU is developing its own IRIS² satellite system, with limited services starting in January 2026 and full deployment planned for 2029. However, alternatives like OneWeb remain inferior to Starlink, and Europe will likely continue depending on US systems for years while building its own capabilities.