France's Eutelsat plans to deploy satellites in Ukraine if Starlink disconnects

French satellite operator Eutelsat is in discussions with EU authorities regarding the deployment of additional terminals in Ukraine, in case SpaceX’s Starlink network is cut off.

“We are actively working with European institutions and commercial partners to ensure the rapid deployment of additional terminals for critical missions and infrastructure,” Eutelsat stated, Caliber.Az reports referring to French media.

The company also confirmed that its low-orbit satellites are already in use in Ukraine to support government-level communications.

On March 4, The Economist quoted a Ukrainian source stating that Ukraine is actively working on developing backup communication channels for the military, fearing a potential loss of access to Starlink, the satellite network founded by Elon Musk.

Earlier, European Commission representative Tom Renier suggested that the EU may offer Ukraine an alternative to Starlink if Musk decides to disconnect the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the network. However, he noted that discussions remain in the early stages, and a concrete proposal, along with deployment, is unlikely before 2030.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov previously stated that Kyiv aims to develop a communication system similar to Starlink to ensure connectivity in case of a U.S. network shutdown in the country.

German media also raised concerns about a potential Starlink shutdown, warning that such a move could lead to the “inevitable and irreversible” collapse of the Ukrainian military. According to sources, several key military applications, including internet-based communication tools, as well as target identification and detection systems, rely on Starlink. The system is also used for Ukrainian maritime drones.

These concerns come amid increasing uncertainty over Western support for Ukraine. Prior to this, the White House officially confirmed the suspension of all military aid to Ukraine following an unsuccessful meeting between US and Ukrainian leaders in Washington.

By Tamilla Hasanova