Starlink or Starshield? The satellites Ukraine relies on

Ukraine’s military depends on two satellite systems linked to Elon Musk: Starlink and Starshield. Here is what each does. Starlink is a commercial network that provides internet access through thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit. It keeps communications online in areas where ground infrastructure is damaged or unavailable. Starshield is a separate, more secure service built for government and military use. It offers encrypted communications and can carry specialized payloads, such as imaging sensors. Ukraine uses these systems for battlefield communications and other military tasks. The distinction matters because Starlink is a civilian product, while Starshield is designed for defense customers.