Ukraine’s Dependence on Starlink Won’t Be Easy to Break (1)

Ukraine, reliant on satellite communications from Elon Musk’s Starlink in a war that’s decimated the country’s telecommunications infrastructure, is finding that there’s no easy way out.

As relations with President Donald Trump’s administration deteriorate, the country has accelerated processes to find other options should Musk pull the plug. Ukraine is considering moving to European satellite providers, and setting up a mesh of antennas, modems and cables on the ground, officials and military personnel told Bloomberg.

But the alternatives have drawbacks, and the country can’t afford a delay if it loses access, they said.

A Starlink antenna at a front line position near Pokrovsk, Ukraine.

Photographer: Pierre Crom/Getty Images

French satellite company Eutelsat ...