Fire Point CEO says missiles can strike without satellite link

Iryna Terekh, chief executive of Fire Point, announced that the company can execute long-range strikes without using Starlink satellite communications.

Terekh spoke during a Reuters interview on October 30, 2026. She stated that Fire Point built its systems with this specific capability in mind. The company designs its missiles to finish missions without external satellite links. Navigation that functions without external signals is a priority for the firm.

The announcement follows a dispute over satellite restrictions in Ukraine. On October 19, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Starlink and Starshield equipment stopped working at speeds between 130 and 161 km/h. This issue disrupted logistics and limited drone use along the front line.

SpaceX owner Elon Musk reacted to the news on October 21. He tweeted that limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and the president. The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk ordered the slowdown for the military version of Starlink. The restrictions made some Ukrainian strike drones and interceptor drones practically unusable.

On October 22, the Wall Street Journal reported that President Donald Trump called Musk. Trump allegedly asked Musk to lift the restrictions on Starshield in Ukraine. Musk commented on the restrictions again on October 24. He claimed the Ukrainian military violated the terms of use for the communications system. Musk also said the Ukrainian front line would collapse immediately if Starlink were switched off.

Terekh declined to disclose the specific technological solutions Fire Point used. She estimated that the new methods cover 15 to 20 percent of what the company could do if Starlink were working over Russia. Zelenskyy believes the publicity surrounding the connection restrictions helped restore the Starlink system to required speeds.

Fire Point systems are now designed to navigate without any external signal. Terekh confirmed the company found a way to technologically overcome the challenge. The current workaround is less capable than full satellite operation. The systems remain functional for specific strike missions in Russia and occupied territories.