Ukraine is set to become one of the first countries in the world to roll out SpaceX’s Starlink Direct to Cell technology, allowing users to send text messages via satellite without mobile network coverage, First Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov, announced on August 12.
The service, currently in beta testing, is expected to officially launch in Ukraine this fall.
Satellite connectivity — in every Ukrainian’s smartphone. I tested Starlink’s Direct to Cell @SpaceX technology with @TwiyKyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov. This is a technology of the future, and it will soon be available in 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/c0Us7TAo3T
— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) August 12, 2025
With Starlink’s Direct to Cell system, Ukrainians will be able to send SMS messages in remote or hard-to-reach areas—such as in the mountains, during severe weather, or blackouts—without the need for expensive satellite equipment.
The only requirements: a standard 4G smartphone with a SIM or eSIM card, and a clear view of the sky.
“This technology will ensure that Ukrainians can stay connected without mobile network coverage, via SMS,” Fedorov said. “Reliable communication for every Ukrainian is one of our key priorities.”
Fedorov and Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov personally tested the technology, successfully exchanging the first text messages sent via satellite directly from smartphones.
Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov (R), with Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov (L), August 12, 2025. (Source: Mykhailo Fedorov)
“This is a breakthrough that doesn’t require buying special devices—your regular phone will work,” Komarov noted.
Ukraine joins the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, and New Zealand as one of the first nations to deploy Starlink Direct to Cell.
The move comes despite the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine, with Ukrainian officials stressing that maintaining strong, accessible communications is critical to both civilian life and national resilience.
The service is expected to be particularly valuable in rural areas, war-affected zones, and during emergencies when traditional mobile networks may fail.
Earlier, reports emerged that Ukraine’s largest telecom operator, Kyivstar, aims to raise between $50 million and $200 million through a landmark stock market listing in New York this year.
Fundraiser For Peaceful Nights
$1,500,000 towards 10 Ukrainian AI-Controlled Turrets.
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