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Kaja Kallas Warns EU Lacks Starlink Alternative

By Drooid · Oct 16, 2026, 3:03 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Ukraine Restricts Starshield

Ukraine reported Starshield restrictions that cut drone and communications links above ~160 km/h on Oct 13–14.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Europe lacks a short-term alternative to SpaceX’s Starlink at the Oct 16 summit.
Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius warned the bloc’s dependence on American space capabilities and urged development of IRIS².
Polish minister Radoslaw Sikorski said Poland pays roughly $50 million a year for Ukraine’s Starlink and warned Musk about politics.

Summary

Russia Re-enters Satellite

SONIKS data projects Russia’s Rassvet-3 satellite No. 23 will re-enter on Oct 29 2026.
Satellite No. 17 is descending about 1.7 km per day and may burn up on Nov 1 2026.
In 2026 Russia launched 32 production Rassvet satellites, raising the program’s total to 38 spacecraft.
Bureau 1440 of ICS Holding plans to operate 292 Rassvet satellites by 2027 and 924 by 2035.

History

Historical Context

In November 1998 Iridium SSC, financed by Motorola, placed 66 low-Earth-orbit satellites into service, but the $5 billion-cost system entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 1999. The U.S. government bought the assets for $25 million in 2001, restoring service, and Iridium later relaunched its constellation with SpaceX’s Iridium NEXT between 2017 and 2019. The early failure discouraged many commercial LEO projects.

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Ukraine Restricts Starshield

Ukraine reported Starshield restrictions that cut drone and communications links above ~160 km/h on Oct 13–14.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Europe lacks a short-term alternative to SpaceX’s Starlink at the Oct 16 summit.
Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius warned the bloc’s dependence on American space capabilities and urged development of IRIS².
Polish minister Radoslaw Sikorski said Poland pays roughly $50 million a year for Ukraine’s Starlink and warned Musk about politics.

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