Ukraine Partners With ICEYE and Nokia to Build Domestic Satellite Communications

Ukraine's Defence Ministry has signed a letter of intent with European space company ICEYE and Finnish telecom giant Nokia to develop a domestic satellite communications system, following recent restrictions on its Starlink access that disrupted military operations. The agreement aims to build sovereign satellite communications capabilities for Ukraine's defense, addressing vulnerabilities exposed when Starshield, SpaceX's military-grade Starlink service, was reportedly slowed last week, causing lost drones and disrupted missions against Russia. President Donald Trump said Thursday the service is running at full speed, but a senior European official said the speed cap remains at about 100 mph. The incident has triggered political fallout, with Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal launching an inquiry into who ordered the restrictions. Trump denies involvement, while Vice President JD Vance hinted at White House coordination with Elon Musk, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth deny administration involvement.