Ukraine moving toward Israeli-Italian satellite terminals instead of Starlink - report

Though unconfirmed, the move would provide Ukrainian operators an alternative communications channel for drones

Ukrainian drone forces may be adopting satellite communications technology developed by Israeli firm HiSky for long-range strike operations, according to a report published by Kyiv Post citing Russian and Ukrainian military sources. 

The move would provide Ukrainian operators with an alternative communications channel for drones operating beyond the coverage or operational limits of other satellite networks, such as SpaceX's Starlink and Starshield services.

According to the report, claims first surfaced in Russian military media that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had begun equipping drones targeting military infrastructure and oil facilities inside Russia with terminals connected to HiSky's SmartLITE satellite communications system.

Founded in 2015, HiSky develops compact satellite communications systems for mobile land, maritime, airborne, and unmanned platforms. The company's SmartLITE family of terminals is designed to provide secure voice and data connectivity and is marketed for defense, homeland security, and industrial applications.

A report on Italy’s La Repubblica news website said that photos published by Russian media showed a Ukrainian drone that crashed with a Starlite device. On the label read, “Italian-made goods,” along with the address of the production plant in the Italian province of Caserta.

The reported adoption comes as Ukraine continues to expand its use of long-range unmanned systems against targets deep inside Russian territory. Russian military commentators cited in the report by the Kyiv Post claimed that HiSky-equipped drones could maintain communications through multiple commercial satellite networks, allowing operators to transmit telemetry data and adjust missions during flight.

Nevertheless, compared to Starlink, Starlite can transmit smaller amounts of data.  

Neither Ukrainian authorities nor HiSky have publicly confirmed the reported operational use of the system. Israeli companies are not allowed to sell any platforms or solutions to Ukraine that may be used offensively. Some reports speculated that the topic may have been discussed during the visit by the head of the Russian military intelligence to Israel last week.

Restrictions in place

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that speed restrictions remained in place on the US Starshield satellite communications system, hampering the Ukrainian military's ability to operate inside the country.

Zelensky said the continued restrictions made it hard to intercept jet-powered and other drones and sent a bad signal to Russia about dealing with land seized by Russian forces in the four-and-a-half-year war.

"Unfortunately, the speed restrictions remain in place along the entire front line and in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine," he said in his nightly video address.

"I expect the Defense Ministry and the Foreign Ministry, together with all relevant structures in the United States, will work through this issue."

In mid-October, Ukrainian officials said Elon Musk's SpaceX had abruptly capped the speed of Starlink and its Starshield military version, cutting off drones and other equipment moving faster than about 160 kilometers per hour amid tensions with US President Donald Trump’s administration over Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries.

Service was restored on October 24 and neither Musk nor the US government, which operates Starshield using Starlink technology, took responsibility for imposing the curbs.

On Thursday, Zelensky said Ukrainian military units had again recorded disruptions to Starshield over several days.

In his latest comments, Zelensky repeated that the restrictions "limit our ability to intercept jet-powered Shaheds (Iranian-designed drones) and counter other drones."

"They also send Russia a signal that America may somehow treat our temporarily occupied land differently," he said. "We expect the speed to be restored."