Ukraine has begun testing a satellite communications alternative to Starlink in partnership with an unnamed European country, as both Kyiv and Moscow seek to reduce dependence on Elon Musk's network. The project mirrors a parallel Russian-Chinese effort that Moscow expects to complete by December 2026.
The push for alternatives follows SpaceX's decision last year to block Russian access to Starlink terminals in Ukraine. Kyiv now hopes to persuade Musk and Washington to allow Starlink-guided strikes inside Russian territory, though Musk has cited escalation risks as a barrier to such use.
Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to receive Western air-defence support, having obtained 264 Patriot interceptor missiles so far in 2026, down from 364 in 2025 and 675 in 2023.