Ukraine seeks alternatives as Starlink restrictions disrupt operations

After SpaceX began throttling Starlink for terminals moving faster than about 160 km/h on October 13, 2026, Ukrainian forces and defense firms faced disruptions to drone and air-defense missions. Companies like BlueBird Tech are shifting to fiber-optic drones and other links to reduce reliance on Starlink.

• SpaceX throttled Starlink for terminals above ~160 km/h starting October 13
• Restrictions hit supply, reconnaissance and air-defense interceptor drones
• BlueBird Tech uses fiber-optic Zhakh FPV drones without Starlink dependence
• US and Europe funded tens of thousands of Starlink and Starshield terminals for Ukraine