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Ukraine turns to Finland's Nokia and ICEYE for its own satellite network as Starshield falters
Zelenskyy said Ukraine will lean more on Finnish satellite capability after a letter of intent signed during Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's visit to Kyiv.
Key points
- Ukraine's Defence Ministry signed a letter of intent with Finnish firms to build an independent satellite communications system.
- The companies are Nokia and ICEYE, and the deal was signed during Petteri Orpo's visit to Kyiv.
- A Defence Ministry source said signal loss is still being seen on Starshield despite Trump saying access was restored.
Ukraine is to build its own satellite communications system with two Finnish companies, Nokia and ICEYE, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday, as his military keeps reporting problems with Starshield, the military version of Elon Musk’s Starlink.
Ukraine’s Defence Ministry and the Finnish firms signed a letter of intent on Thursday, while Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo was visiting Kyiv. “[Ukraine] will use more of Finland’s satellite capabilities. This is important for our defence, for Ukraine’s resilience,” Zelenskyy said.
ICEYE says its satellites gather reconnaissance data regardless of weather or time of day. Its chief executive, Rafal Modrzewski, said Ukraine needs a secure satellite system that it controls. No cost or timeline for the project has been announced.
Starshield still patchy
Ukrainian officials said on 13 October that sudden Starlink restrictions had left frontline units scrambling. Service came back, but connections have stayed unreliable. On Thursday, Donald Trump said Musk had restored Ukraine’s access. “If there is a problem, I’ll get it straightened out,” he said.
A Defence Ministry source said on Friday that “instances of signal loss are still being observed” on Starshield. Musk and Trump administration officials have blamed each other for the decision to restrict access.
The row has come as relations between Trump and Zelenskyy have soured and Washington has pursued talks with Vladimir Putin. Ukraine’s negotiators are due in Abu Dhabi in the first half of November for the next round of US-mediated talks.