Photo: Danish Ministry of Defence
Denmark is donating European-produced satellite services to Ukraine’s defense through the European Defence Agency (EDA).
Denmark is providing Ukraine with satellite receiver terminals for access to satellite-based communications, the Danish Ministry of Defence announced this week. The MoD did not specify a specific satellite operator or equipment provider, only that the services are produced in Europe.
The European Defence Agency said the framework it provided can help diversify satellite communication service usage over Ukraine. EDA expects that more EU countries will follow suit and consider similar donations.
“Space is a domain that is increasingly calling for defense policy attention. Denmark has now contributed to strengthening Ukraine’s satellite-based communications in their defense against Russia,” commented Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen. “There is a very large potential in space-based solutions that can contribute to both Ukrainian, Danish, and European defense,” Poulsen added.
Ukraine has relied on SpaceX’s Starlink internet service in the war, and European leaders have called for the EU to invest in European alternatives to Starlink. Eutelsat’s Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) services are deployed in Ukraine supporting government and institutional communications.
“Such a donation contributes to promoting both Ukraine’s and Europe’s technological strategic autonomy and freedom of action in space. Satellites play a crucial role in modern defense today,” EDA said in a statement.