Why is Ukraine so reliant on Starlink and can Europe plug the gap?

Ukraine is pushing for a new satellite internet network because a fast, reliable alternative to Elon Musk’s Starlink “simply doesn’t exist” yet, the BBC reports. Last week’s sudden Starlink slowdown affected Kyiv’s ability to defend itself from Russian attacks, sharpening Europe’s urgency for its own military-grade constellation. Musk said Ukraine violated Starlink terms by using it for “drone strikes to kill people,” and announced that violations would result in service ending, adding that turning Starlink off would collapse Ukraine’s front line. The article notes France’s OneWeb has about 600 active satellites versus Starlink’s 10,000-plus, while the EU’s Iris² is planned for 2029. Ukraine’s best near-term option is joining Govsatcom, but it can’t be used for military drone warfare.