Recently, Poland has faced heated discussions regarding the funding of Starlink terminals for Ukraine. Experts state that Poland has spent more than $80 million over three years supporting Ukrainians, including payments for Starlink. Official statistics, however, cite around $50 million, but by year-end, the sum could rise to $100 million since the start of the full-scale war.
Funding comes from both the government's Ministry of Digitalization and various municipalities. A significant portion targets aid for Ukrainian refugees inside Poland. However, due to a veto by government official Nawrocki on a refugee support bill, a key aid fund's operations have been paused and related payments suspended.
Poland provides over 50% of all Western Starlink deliveries for Ukrainians. Yet, because of halted funding and associated payments from October, Starlink terminal provision is now at risk. Officials claim this is temporary and say the issue will be resolved after a proposed law is voted on in September.
Political controversy also surrounds Nawrocki’s initiative to ban "Banderite" symbols and the decentralized system for funding Starlink. Another related issue is the maintenance of Ukrainian government servers in Poland for data protection. Continued cooperation issues could affect further support for Ukraine, as skepticism rises within Polish society along with debate about refugee policies and financial aid.
Experts urge against escalating the scandal but emphasize that the problem cannot be ignored, stressing the need for compromise to maintain effective cooperation between Ukraine and Poland in wartime and amid political shifts.
