Ukraine plans sovereign satellite network with Nokia and ICEYE

Ukraine’s war with Russia has made satellite links essential to its defense. Since Russia’s February 2022 invasion, the country has relied heavily on SpaceX’s Starlink constellation and the military‑grade Starshield service, which lets drones operate over large distances. The Ukrainian military has become adept at using drones for both attack and defense, making a reliable satellite link critical.

Needs secure, sovereign satellite communications

On 22 October, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence signed a letter of intent with Finnish companies Nokia and ICEYE to explore a sovereign satellite‑communications network that Ukraine would own and operate. The partnership aims to combine satellites, ground infrastructure and user terminals into a high‑throughput, low‑latency broadband system. Mikko Hautala, Nokia’s chief geopolitical and government relations officer, said: “Nations need communications they can rely on in every situation. Satellite networks extend and protect connectivity when networks on the ground are disrupted. This makes them a key part of any secure communications system.”

Earlier in the month, Ukrainian soldiers and officials reported a severe throttling of Starshield access that acted as a speed limit on drone‑carrying terminals, causing many drones to fall out of the sky. It is not clear who was behind the throttling, but the incident highlighted the risk of relying on a foreign‑operated network. ICEYE, which has supported Ukraine since 2022, provides satellite data that Ukraine uses for intelligence and planning.

The announcement does not specify the system’s architecture, funding, procurement arrangements or deployment timeline. The initiative remains at an exploratory stage, with the aim of giving Ukraine control over the connectivity it depends on. The partnership also reflects ICEYE’s broader strategy of expanding sovereign space capabilities alongside its Earth‑observation work.