r/worldnews • u/pravda_eng_official Ukrainska Pravda • 9h ago
Russia/Ukraine Zelenskyy says Ukraine is developing satellite system similar to Starlink
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/10/04/8056442/330
u/WorstFkGamer 9h ago
The rate of technology that Ukraine makes I wouldn't be surprised if they make the first T-800 soon.
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u/Grow_away_420 8h ago
Theyll beat Elon to mars at this rate
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u/OkWillingness2817 8h ago
I suppose there’s something to be said for disposable soldiers but it sounds like a lot of effort to produce an inferior Ukranian soldier.
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u/SuperSimpleSam 8h ago
Can Ukraine put satellites into orbit or will they have to go with Europe or India to do it?
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u/perfect_skill 8h ago edited 6h ago
There has been a cool option tested quite recently and, well, Ukraine is proud to be the home to Pivdenmash that is good at space going rockets (albeit last couple dozen years they mostly built engines for americans and some minor full rockets), and a healthy number of other space related rnd/manufacturing that, again, sadly, due to lack of a coherent space program have survived by making stuff for europeans and americans (and, before 2014, russians)
Soo not impossible.
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u/Remarkable_Beach_545 6h ago
I read recently that pivdenmash is effectively destroyed, with absolutely no sources other than a random redditor who claims to be from Ukraine
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u/hextreme2007 7h ago
A few? Maybe.
Tens of thousands of them? Impossible with their own money only.
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u/beachedwhale1945 6h ago
For reference, according to Dr. Jonathan McDowell’s database (updated Friday), there are currently 11,156 Starlink satellites in orbit, with another 1,832 that have reentered for various reasons (most deliberately deorbited at end of life). At most launches had 60 Starlinks, but the more recent larger satellites average 20-25 depending on the intended orbit.
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u/perfect_skill 6h ago
You dont have to launch nearly that much to do what Ukraine needs to do tho. russian rassvet is about 40 satellites and is already beginning to be a problem when those are in window.
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u/falconzord 8h ago
They'll probably have to work with Europe. India is too friendly with Russia. They probably could make their own rocket and take over the old Soyuz pad.
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u/Leston_ 9h ago
Wait, what? Does Ukraine have a space program? How are they gonna launch it?
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u/Zhadius 8h ago
Space is a business these days. You buy a launch slot from someone like SpaceX or even from another’s national space program.
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u/RocketVerse 8h ago
SpaceX is booked out now that they’re pushing Falcon to retirement, but maybe? Firefly used to have facilities in Ukraine, I would say maybe they could help
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u/bryceton 8h ago
They have partners especially Europe and Canada. I would not be surprised if its revealed later Canada is partners in this project or atleast a purchaser. (If there is no current europe alternative?)
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u/karma3000 7h ago
They'll be riding a SpaceX rocket because it's a long trip. A SpaceX rocket is truly big. Its hold will tuck all their satellites into a little corner - they'll be just a small part of the ship's manifest.
There could be Russian satellites right alongside theirs and they'd have nothing to fear from them. The Russians know better than to endanger their shipping privileges from Elon.
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u/OSUfan88 6h ago
He literally already does.
SpaceX Launched 72 Amazon Kuiper satellites (direct competitor) in 2026 alone, with 240+ more satellites manifested
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u/cognisantcog 8h ago
Didn't they just rebrand the soviet space agency when the union went wallop? Otherwise they'll probably just Europe to launch them
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u/Waiting4Reccession 5h ago
There are companies like Rocket Lab that they could pay for launch of their satellites.
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u/Sticklefront 4h ago
Everyone just pays one of a few conpanies to have their satellites launched. Even NASA doesn't have its own rocket for launching satellites.
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u/akl78 8h ago
You know those Soviet ICBMs and space rockets?
Many were designed and built in Ukraine.
But right now, they are focused on closer targets.
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u/lando-bailando 8h ago
Yes they were
But Pivdenmash is destroyed.
I’d be happy if firstly Ukrainian made cruise missiles and ballistics fly on the regular basis first
Because for now this is just “Zelensky says”
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u/macross1984 9h ago
Good. You don't want to be dependent on system that can be turned on and off at the whim of Elon.
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u/Lonely_Nebula_9438 5h ago
It’s important to remember that Starlink automatically disables itself in Russia because that’s what the US Military told Elon Musk to do. Musk isn’t actually responsible for that story about shutting off Starlink access to the Ukrainians.
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u/TelluricThread0 8h ago edited 8h ago
Nothing is turned off on a whim. You are not allowed to use starlink to blow people up and it violates the terms of use sorry.
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u/Negative-Ask-2317 8h ago
Except they can and do use Starlink to guide drones and other weapons, just not over Russian territory.
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u/TelluricThread0 8h ago
No they don't. No weapon systems are allowed to use starlink period.
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u/Negative-Ask-2317 8h ago
They are currently asking, as per the article, to extend Starlink use for deep strikes inside Russia.
Starlink connection is routine for many Ukrainian drones. Russia themselves used it, though they have since been mostly cut off by whitelisting.
I have seen pictures of drone boats with Starlink receivers on top.
If you're reluctant to use a search engine for some reason, here's some text from an another news article:
Ukraine's Ukrspecsystems officially unveiled the RAM-2X operational-tactical loitering munition, which is already in frontline use. It has a range of up to 180 km, endurance of 2h15m and a warhead up to 3.5 kg, with day and night operation, automatic target acquisition and tracking, protected radio links and Starlink connectivity. RAM-2X can operate alongside the SHARK-M reconnaissance drone. The company says Ukrainian units have used it against more than 1,042 targets.
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u/TelluricThread0 8h ago
If you could use a search engine you'd know that starlink is not allowed to be used for weapons. Thats why it was rightfully turned off. Just a few months ago the CEO reaffirmed that no weapons systems are allowed to use starlink terminals. Nice try spinning misinformation though.
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u/FluorescentFlux 7h ago edited 5h ago
Why are they used for that, though?
The policy is nothing but a smoke screen so that russia doesn't start blowing sats up.
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u/Gil15 6h ago
That’s like pointing to a rulebook that says something is prohibited and arguing “therefore, it isn’t happening.” The fact that Starlink’s terms prohibit certain military uses doesn’t prove that Ukraine doesn’t use Starlink for military purposes.
It only means that such use may violate the terms. Which Elon could completely turn it all off if he wanted, due to the (more than justifiable, since they’re fighting for their existence as a country) break of the terms. Yet he doesn’t shut them off, because however much of a moron he might be when it comes to anything other than his actual areas of expertise, he has some sense in him to mostly turn a blind eye to it.17
u/ZiKyooc 8h ago
That is not entirely accurate, Ukraine uses it within Ukraine for such purpose, and also in the black sea on naval drones
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u/TelluricThread0 8h ago
No they do not. They are no military weapon systems that are allowed to use statlink terminals. Using it for weapons is strictly forbidden.
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u/ZiKyooc 7h ago
You are wrongly informed
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u/TelluricThread0 7h ago edited 7h ago
Its literally right there in the user agreement lol. I know you have to protect your precious narrarive but those are the facts comrade.
“It is a violation of commercial Starlink terms of service to use the terminal for weapon systems. This applies to all users and is shut down when discovered,” Musk wrote.
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u/Gil15 7h ago
I would think the contract a government signs with a private company is different from the term and conditions an individual user gets.
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u/TelluricThread0 6h ago
Its universally true you can't export weapon systems under ITAR. If they were used for offensive purposes they would fall under that and the company would face legal action and loss of all government contracts.
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u/Odd_Routine3564 8h ago
Well. Do they have their own space program? How many satellite do they have?
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u/Erki82 7h ago
Many Soviet Union rockets where engineered in modern day Ukraine, so they have know-how. Rockets like Dnipro, Zenith, Tsyklon made in Ukraine did fly in 1980s-2010s, currently under development is Zenith/Tsyklon upgrade called Cyclone-4M. But realistically they just need to make satellites, they will find the launcher (ESA).
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u/OwlSlow1356 6h ago
esa launching site is booked for years to come. this is just propaganda for the news cycle, if you are not in the news, you will loose the war rather sooner than later, so they need to come up with all sorts of great news, updates etc to keep the world interested in their cause!
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u/RocketVerse 8h ago
They don’t, though Firefly aerospace used to have engineers in Ukraine, so they exist
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u/koombot 8h ago
Excellent. The sky is already a mess with constellations. The projected growth of these things is (excuse the pun) astronomical and already causes issues with observatory observation from earth.
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u/extraneous-carapace 8h ago
I'm pretty sure Ukrainian astronomers and eastern europe find the incoming missiles and thousands of drones a week a much bigger interference with the sky.
Not to mention all those burning civilian high rises really murks the meridian, you know
Priorities....
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u/himbologic 8h ago
Hopefully they won't be jackasses like Starlink and their satellites will be non-reflective.
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u/citramonk 7h ago
As a Ukrainian I highly doubt it, we fucked up almost everything related to our space program long time ago. We built rockets and fucked if up, so now we're trying to make some again. Satellites? No shot.
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u/JohnB456 8h ago
That's gonna be messy if everyone decides they need to do this. Theres only so much room for satellites. Not only that, but they don't last forever, which means more space debris. Which is already a complex problem of launching and dodging the current debris in orbit.
If every country starts deciding each needs its own, theres gonna be huge debates over this. Imo, everyone who isn't already doing, has missed the boat big time.
Space is the only real frontier left and very few players have the capabilities to contend. I don't see USA, etc allowing to much of this. I think they already own something like 70% of satellites.
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u/IvorTheEngine 7h ago
I guess we could end up in a similar situation to GPS, where Russia, China and Europe all made their own to avoid relying on the USA, and now most receivers pick up the signals from all 4 systems to get a faster, more accurate position.
Communications satellites would need to talk to each other rather than just broadcast, but there are definite benefits to sharing with people you're not currently at war with.
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u/JohnB456 7h ago
except you don't want this for satellites used via the military, which I suspect is a massive reason Ukraine want there own. What if parts of Europe end up in a war with itself? Who gets to use the satellites for strategic advantages?
Maybe if Europe becomes the United States of Europe, then sure. But as it stands who controls it? Because not every country is part of the EU or NATO and I doubt every European country would one to join. England and Brexit and they're the european country with the most satellites.
Air superiority is king. Those who control the eyes in the sky, have a massive advantage. Now everyone is realising it. Everyone wants a piece, but the cake isn't big enough.
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u/ManintheGyre 5h ago
AST Spacemobile already has a deal with Vodafone Ukraine to provide broadband connectivity from space. Far better tech than starlink. They are actively building and launching and can provide continuous coverage with maybe 75 satellites which might be in orbit in a year from now.
Furthermore, AST satellites can be used for defense purposes like radar sensing of missiles, planes, and shaheds. Starlink can't do that.
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u/NationalisticMemes 9h ago
How many satellites has Ukraine launched since its independence?
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u/strong_silent_t 9h ago
10.
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u/NationalisticMemes 9h ago
Потужно.
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u/deeptechdegen 9h ago
Dunno if youre being sarcastic but 10 is a lot
As a comparison, the British government has 5
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u/Spooknik 9h ago
Ukraine itself has launched a few (Sich series). But they have built 170 launch vehicles since 1991. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_space_launches_of_Ukrainian_launch_vehicles
A lot of them were launched from Russia so when the war started that stopped obviously. But they have the skill and probably still some manufacturing. SpaceX has launched their stuff before too. I’m sure ESA wouldn’t object to launching their vehicles.
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u/NationalisticMemes 9h ago
Ukraine doesn't have a single spaceport, all satellites were launched together with someone else. You can continue to believe this propaganda, but I live in Ukraine and know that Ukraine is impotent when it comes to space.
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u/deeptechdegen 9h ago edited 8h ago
Almost all satellites these days are launched with someone else given SpaceX’s monopoly on launch
Just because Ukraine is not the US or China does not mean its “impotent”
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u/strong_silent_t 9h ago
but I live in Ukraine and know that Ukraine
What you don't know - is how it works in other countries.
And it works pretty much the same way, except if you take major powers like the US.
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u/donut_tamper 7h ago
He has huge problems with scaling FP-5 and FP-9, would be better for him to focus on that direction. Last Ukrainian satellite project consisting from a single satellite “Lybid” was a project about eating up piece of Ukrainian budget with corruption schemes for 10 years. If he is going to commit for that stretch better him to do it for his own money
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u/SquishyJeans 9h ago edited 4h ago
I unironically think Ukraine will be the next military superpower
EDIT: a lot braindead MAGA dudes messaging me rn
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u/Big_al_big_bed 7h ago
I would love to hear your arguments for this.
Massive demographic crisis, have just lost 1/3 of their country, potential to become landlocked if Russia eventually takes Odessa, already burnt through the 100+ billion given to them by Europe for 2 years in less than a year and are still 27 billion short, I could go on.
I want Ukraine to win as much as the next guy but if you think Ukraine is anywhere close to a superpower you are living in total fantasy land.
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u/SquishyJeans 7h ago edited 4h ago
I said will be not is.Did I trigger a nerve or something?
Also what’s the source for your numbers
You guys can keep downvoting me it makes literally no difference lol
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u/Lonely_Nebula_9438 5h ago
Ukraine isn’t even a regional power. You really think that they can reach equivalency with China? A completely ridiculous statement. You’re honestly deluded.
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u/hextreme2007 7h ago
Any prediction without a specified deadline is meaningless.
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u/SquishyJeans 6h ago
What does that even mean lmao.
EDIT: to to dudes in the dm’s telling me to kill myself, your family trees are wreaths
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u/hextreme2007 6h ago
I mean a prediction should be like "I think something would happen by a specified time (by tomorrow/by this November/by year 20XX)"
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u/SquishyJeans 6h ago
So you’re annoyed I just think they’ll become a superpower in general?
Ok bro lol
And I’d say 2032 because once Trump is gone life will be better for the world. He keeps using Ukraine as a pawn for his oil bs
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u/hextreme2007 6h ago
I am not annoyed. I just want to see a time.
So it's 2032 to you. OK. Got it.
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u/SquishyJeans 5h ago
My apologies, I interpreted it that way. Hard to tell on reddit lol.
What are your thoughts on it?
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u/hextreme2007 3h ago
Unrealistic. Military superpower? I think it can only be used to describe a country that can project its military power across the globe. It's definitely not something Ukraine will do an can do regardless the final result of the current war.
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u/Slow_Celery_4200 8h ago
On borrowed money no less
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u/A1Wow 8h ago
US is 40t in debt, everyone borrows from someone
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u/Slow_Celery_4200 8h ago
US is also world's reserve currency. Ukraine is out begging every other week for bailouts aka freebees.
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u/andupotorac 8h ago
They’re doing the fighting for us. Happy to have my tax money go to them.
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u/Big_al_big_bed 7h ago
You are changing the goalposts of the discussion. Weren't we talking about the economy of Ukraine not the fact that they are fighting?
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u/Slow_Celery_4200 8h ago
You are welcome to sell all your assets and donate your money to them
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u/plastic_alloys 8h ago
Luckily, you don’t make these decisions and those that do can see that the US & Europe funding Ukraine has been worth every penny
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u/JustJim93 8h ago
Don't need to.. your government is rightfully taxing you and donating it to them.
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u/BooksandBiceps 7h ago
They’re fighting an existential war against a military superpower, no shit. Also, every other major country has debt including China so that’s an “interesting” argument.
Are they going to be the next super power? No, they don’t have the population for that, still have corruption they’re working through, and they need to rebuild all that Russia destroyed.But they a decade or two from now they’ll be a maaajor power in Europe.
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u/Ihor_S 8h ago
The US was heavily dependent on French support during it’s war of independence. Ukraine is also fighting the war for being an independent sovereign nation right now.
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u/JohnB456 7h ago
yeah, but that's ignoring the US at the time was confined to the east coast. Ukraine doesn't have a vast, resource reach, untouched, frontier to expand into, with oil fields, gold, farm, land etc just waiting for them to tap into once the wars over. Nor are they or the world on the verge of an industrial revolution, which really launched the US into a super power.
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u/cognisantcog 8h ago
Like all of us, no? The house is financed. So is the car. So are most family homes groceries (credit cards)
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u/Slow_Celery_4200 8h ago
Way to go in conflating the issue. For house, you have to pay monthly mortgage and bank will repo if you can't
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u/Manos_Of_Fate 8h ago
Well there are some significant advantages to being able to effectively leverage the entire economic output of a country to borrow money against.
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u/EvidenceBeliever 8h ago
Which will only further push towards the weaponization of space. If the world doesn't want to deal with Russia, then Russia is going to very quickly end up in their back yard
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u/MematicCable 8h ago
As soon as Russia takes it's foot of Ukraine the technological explosion that is going to come out of that country is wild.
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u/MyModemIsSlow 7h ago
I'd buy theirs over coELONics. I know it's spelled wrong; but, kind of means the same thing?
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u/Cranky0ldguy 4h ago
And almost certainly superior as it will most likely be engineered and managed by someone with more qualifications than "rich stupid and ignorant person who cares more about how he is perceived than actually producing a usable service."
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u/Rough_Jaguar_2643 8h ago
Such a clever bunch the ukrainians, putin wishes russia was as clever but they are too busy meddling in other countires affairs.
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u/PressureLast2115 8h ago
Hell yeah. Showing independence from Elon musk without attacking Elon musk.
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u/nufipuficateumfli 7h ago
aww, how cute. they'll use our money to launch shit into space besides lining the pockets of their government leaders.
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u/BrondellSwashbuckle 5h ago
So is Russia. This war has constant innovation on both sides. It's crazy. Ukraine will win, though. I have no doubt.
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u/Severe_Air_4353 3h ago
🇨🇦 and Ukraine cannot be stopped . Tech is easy pessy when you work together . Not like the hermit country south of Canada.
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u/Amoral_Abe 8h ago
Every country is looking at it. The problem is that by the time serious competition arrives, Starlink will have so many satellites in the preferred orbit that it will cause arguments and conflict over the rights in space. There are already issues with Europe pushing for 2/3 of radio transmission to be exclusive to European countries governments and countries when over Europe. This is a fairly new push and is intended to push SpaceX out to make way for European constellations to start expanding since it doesn't matter if SpaceX has satellites in orbit if they aren't allowed the ideal spectrum to be effective.