Estonia to invest millions in Starlink for Ukraine's military after high-level talks
Photo: Estonia invests millions in Starlink for Ukraine's Armed Forces (Getty Images)
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal shared details of his meeting with Estonia's Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur on Twitter.
During the meeting, Pevkur announced Estonia's initiative to allocate €3 million for the purchase and maintenance of Starlink satellite communication systems for Ukraine.
The two also discussed strengthening air defense, expanding drone production, and setting up joint defense enterprises.
"We value Estonia's participation in PURL. Ukraine is also ready to contribute to projects under the SAFE framework, which will promote the mutual development of our defense industries. We also discussed the training of Ukrainian warriors within the Operation Legio," Shmyhal said.
He thanked the Estonian side for its new financial assistance and continuous support for Ukraine.
"Thank you, Estonia, for your steadfast support of Ukrainians in this war," Shmyhal concluded.
What is Starlink?
Starlink is a global satellite internet network developed by SpaceX, the company founded by Elon Musk. Its goal is to provide high-speed internet access anywhere in the world, especially in areas lacking ground infrastructure or regular provider coverage.
The network consists of thousands of small satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), which helps minimize signal delay and ensure stable connectivity even in hard-to-reach regions.
As of 2025, Starlink operates in dozens of countries, including Ukraine, where it plays a crucial role in maintaining communications amid war and damaged infrastructure.
To connect to Starlink, users employ a special terminal dish that automatically links to satellites in orbit.
Starlink on the front line
In February, Washington raised concerns about the possibility of Ukraine being cut off from Starlink amid talks with Kyiv over rare earth elements. Relations between Ukraine and the United States remain somewhat tense. Following that, the European Commission began exploring ways to help Ukraine in case access to the Starlink network is restricted.
By August, however, the US agreed to cover Starlink's service costs for Ukraine. The State Department approved the sale of satellite communication services and equipment worth about $150 million.
Recently, there have been several Starlink outages on the front lines, the latest of which occurred in September, affecting connectivity along much of the front line.
