• Poland will cease payments for Ukraine's Starlink satellite internet service starting October 2025 due to a presidential budget veto.
  • The move threatens to disrupt critical military and government communications for Ukraine, which relies on over 50,000 terminals.
  • The decision reflects growing budget pressures in Poland and could force Ukraine to seek alternative funding from other allies.

Poland will no longer fund Ukraine's access to SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service beginning October 2025, according to a spokesperson from the country's Digital Affairs Ministry. The funding cutoff comes as a direct result of President Andrzej Duda's veto of the relevant financing provisions in the national budget.

The decision potentially disrupts a critical communications lifeline for Ukrainian military and government operations. SpaceX has supplied over 50,000 Starlink terminals to Ukraine since the Russian invasion began, with Poland serving as the largest single donor—providing approximately 29,500 terminals. The country had previously affirmed exclusive responsibility for covering the service fees after the Pentagon and other initial donors scaled back their direct support.

"Without this funding, we face significant challenges in maintaining this essential service," said a Ukrainian government official who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. Attempts to reach SpaceX for comment on the potential service interruption were not immediately successful.

The move highlights growing budget constraints and political debates within Poland about the long-term sustainability of its support for Ukraine. While Poland has been one of Ukraine's staunchest allies, providing military hardware and serving as a crucial logistical hub, domestic pressure over aid costs has been mounting as the conflict enters its third year.

According to people familiar with the matter, the presidential veto was influenced by broader concerns about fiscal priorities and the effectiveness of certain aid programs. The decision could exacerbate tensions within NATO and EU policymaking circles, where Poland has played a leading role in coordinating support for Ukraine.

Ukrainian soldiers and officials rely heavily on Starlink for secure battlefield communications, drone operations, and coordinating humanitarian aid in areas where traditional infrastructure has been destroyed. Previous incidents where SpaceX restricted Starlink use for certain military operations have already demonstrated the system's vulnerability to policy changes.

International partners are now scrambling to assess the potential impact and identify alternative funding mechanisms. Some officials suggest that a coalition of European governments or NATO itself might need to step in to bridge the funding gap, though no formal proposals have been made public.

The situation remains fluid, with the possibility of last-minute negotiations or policy reversals. However, with the October deadline approaching, Ukrainian officials are increasingly concerned about potential operational gaps in their communications infrastructure during critical military operations.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the number of terminals Poland provided. The correct figure is approximately 29,500 terminals.