Ukraine and Finland Sign €300 Million Deal to Boost Satellite, Rail and Energy Cooperation

Ukraine and Finland concluded seven agreements on Oct. 22, covering satellite services, rail transport, energy and housing construction, officials said. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the deals will increase Ukraine's use of Finnish satellite capabilities, a move aimed at reducing reliance on a single private provider after recent Starlink disruptions. The package is valued at nearly €300 million (about $337 million).

Finland will donate ten Dv12 diesel locomotives and spare parts to Ukrzaliznytsia at no cost, becoming the first country to provide such a free locomotive donation, Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi noted. The locomotives are intended to support Ukraine's rail network, which remains a critical lifeline for passengers and cargo amid ongoing Russian attacks on railway infrastructure.

The agreements also include plans for joint drone production on Finnish soil, the creation of a Ukrainian-Finnish Industrial Council, and cooperation on industrial housing and mobile shelters. Both governments agreed to share expertise on protecting critical infrastructure and to involve Finnish companies as long-term partners in Ukraine and Europe.

Discussions covered Ukraine's large unused gas storage capacity and its potential role in building strategic non-commercial gas reserves for Europe, as the EU moves to eliminate Russian gas imports by 2027.

The deals come as Kyiv seeks alternatives to the Starlink satellite service after speed restrictions imposed in mid-October disrupted drone operations and intelligence sharing. U.S. Vice President JD Vance said the issue should be addressed as a matter of U.S. policy rather than focusing on Elon Musk's company.