Ukraine's largest mobile operator Kyivstar has become the first in Europe to launch Starlink's direct-to-cell satellite technology, enabling millions to stay connected amid wartime blackouts and damaged infrastructure, according to Reuters.
The service, initially offering SMS capabilities with voice and data to follow in 2026, represents a collaboration between Elon Musk's Starlink and telecoms group Veon, which owns Kyivstar. The technology allows regular 4G smartphones to connect directly to satellite networks without requiring additional hardware - a critical capability as Russia systematically targets Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
"In Ukraine, staying connected means staying safe," Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov said in a statement. The service will enhance network resilience for the operator's 22.5 million mobile customers. Komarov said the direct-to-device technology will provide an essential lifeline for subscribers in recently de-occupied territories, during prolonged blackouts and for rescue and humanitarian missions.
The service's launch sparked immediate demand. Within 24 hours, 300,000 Kyivstar customers signed up and users sent 100,000 SMS messages via satellite, according to Ilya Polshakov, head of Veon Group's cloud and satellite business in an interview with Mobile World Live.
Oleksii Plastun, a professor at Sumy State University who lives 30 to 40 kilometers from the Russian border, told me the new service represents "the next step in adapting to this new reality. Not a revolution, but an evolution."
Plastun described the desperate early days of Russia's blackout campaign. "4G was very unstable during the first wave of blackouts in fall 2022," he said. "During blackouts, everyone switched from their home internet to mobile data, which dramatically increased the network load, and the system simply couldn't handle all requests. In addition, at that time a lot of mobile operators' equipment did not have autonomous power sources."
The situation became critical for many Ukrainians trying to work and stay informed. "I remember having an important meeting with a large audience and sitting in the dark on my windowsill, trying to catch at least some 4G," Plastun recalled. "Unsuccessfully."
Mobile operators have since invested heavily in backup power systems. Komarov said Kyivstar has added batteries and generators to provide more than 10 hours of continuous coverage when grid power is unavailable. "Today the situation is much better," Plastun confirmed. "During blackouts 4G now works much more reliably."
Fedir Martynov, a partner at Trident Forward, told me the Kyivstar-Starlink partnership fundamentally changes how Ukraine can withstand Russia's campaign against its infrastructure. "This is the first direct-to-cell deployment in Europe. It gives Ukraine a reliable fallback channel when cell towers or power infrastructure are hit. Any 4G phone can send and receive SMS via satellite when the local network goes down. In wartime conditions, that means civilians and responders stay connected during blackouts or in areas where towers cannot be restored quickly."
Martynov said the service's value becomes clearest during missile attacks. "If a missile strike or blackout disables terrestrial networks, people can still receive warnings and send emergency messages. This reduces the risk of alerts failing during peak danger and increases the ability to call for help after strikes."