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Poland to Provide Ukraine With 5,000 Additional Starlink Terminals

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Poland to Provide Ukraine With 5,000 Additional Starlink Terminals
Ukrainian soldiers of the 61st Separate Mechanized Brigade during exercises in the Chernihiv region, with a camouflaged Starlink system, June 2023. (Source: Getty Images)

Poland has ordered an additional 5,000 Starlink terminals for Ukraine, further strengthening communication capabilities on the front lines. According to Polish Minister of Digitalization Krzysztof Gawkowski, Poland supplies half of all Starlink terminals currently operating in Ukraine.

By the end of 2024, Poland had provided Ukraine with 24,400 Starlink terminals manufactured by SpaceX. Gawkowski noted that a new batch was ordered in November and is gradually being delivered.

Gawkowski stated that, although the terminals are technically loaned rather than donated, they are unlikely to be returned. He explained that this arrangement was chosen to avoid bureaucratic and tax-related complications.

Starlink terminals are a critical asset for the Ukrainian military, ensuring stable communication in combat zones. Not all terminals are active at all times, as they are switched on and off based on operational needs. Additionally, around 300 units have been lost due to battlefield damage.

“Poland has been supplying internet access to Ukrainian society and the military for months. Starlink enables the execution of tasks essential for maintaining the front line,” Gawkowski stated.

Earlier, Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, warned that if Russia succeeds in occupying Ukraine, Poland could be its next target. Speaking at the YES conference on February 24, he stated that Russia aims to restore an empire resembling the Soviet Union, with former Warsaw Pact countries as potential objectives.

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