Finnish technology companies ICEYE and Nokia signed a letter of intent with Ukraine's Defence Ministry on October 22 to develop Ukraine's own sovereign satellite communications system, the Kyiv Independent reported — a move Kyiv hopes will end its dependence on a single foreign private network for battlefield communications.
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the deal during Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's visit to Kyiv, calling the satellite agreement important for Ukraine's defence and resilience. In total, Ukraine and Finland signed seven agreements that day worth about €300 million — yaani roughly $337 million, about ₹2,970 crore — covering defence, rail transport and energy, the Kyiv Post reported.
Ukraine relies on SpaceX's Starlink service for battlefield communications, mid-range drone strikes and air defence, the Kyiv Independent noted. That reliance was exposed by a week of persistent disruptions to Starlink services, and by reported throttling of the military-grade Starshield service from October 14. US President Donald Trump said full speed and functionality had been restored; a Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent that restrictions remained in place — the two accounts differ.
Under the companies' model, governments would own their satellites, ground segment and terminals, so front-line forces would not lose access because of decisions by a foreign government or company. 'Ukraine needs secure, sovereign, and high-performance satellite communications systems that it controls,' ICEYE chief executive Rafal Modrzewski said in the companies' announcement.
A letter of intent, not yet a fleet
A letter of intent is not a procurement contract. Nordic Defence Sector, reporting the companies' joint press release, noted that no financial commitment, procurement plan or timetable for a Ukrainian system was disclosed. The companies' broader joint project — announced on October 1 — expects its first communications satellites to be launched in 2028, and no corresponding schedule has been announced for Ukraine.
Even so, the signing signals how the Russia-Ukraine war is reshaping European defence industry: a front-line state that built its drone war on rented connectivity is now seeking infrastructure it owns outright, with a NATO member's firms as partners.