Ukraine seeks Starlink alternatives after Musk restricts service

Elon Musk's decision to impose speed limits on Starlink's military-grade Starshield service in Ukraine has disrupted Kyiv's drone operations, costing a unit over $1 million and delaying missions by three days, according to Ukrainian officials. The restrictions, which Musk reportedly ordered individually and discussed with President Trump, have sparked bipartisan U.S. calls for an investigation and accusations of undermining NATO alliances. Alternatives like Amazon's Leo, with only 390 satellites versus Starlink's 11,000, remain far behind in capacity and battlefield suitability. Ukraine and European lawmakers are now exploring sovereign satellite systems, though most, like the EU's IRIS², won't launch until 2029. This incident follows Musk's earlier disputed order to shut off Starlink over Crimea in 2023, deepening mistrust and accelerating global demand for independent communications options.