Kyivstar, Mastercard to boost Ukrainian financial infrastructure with Starlink

Details: John Tanner; Category: Mobile Finance; 16 October 2025; 10766 views

Ukrainian telco Kyivstar says it is partnering with Mastercard to create new financial services, boost uptake of digital payments, and develop a more stable financial services infrastructure to support all this using Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell (D2C) satellite service.

Under an MoU signed on Wednesday, Kyivstar and Mastercard plan to test D2C satellite technology as part of their payments infrastructure, as Starlink’s LEO satellite network can reach areas without coverage and enable financial transactions during emergencies.

A satellite-based network is also less vulnerable to attacks on terrestrial infrastructure – a frequent occurrence in Ukraine as Russian armed forces target critical infrastructure in its ongoing invasion of the country.

"The stability and reliability of infrastructure today is an important element of national security,” said Ilya Polskakov, director of new business development at Kyivstar. “We will combine our experience in developing digital products with Mastercard's global payment expertise to strengthen Ukraine's resilience and expand access to innovative financial services.”

On the financial services front, Kyivstar and Mastercard intend to implement technological solutions for online commerce and develop initiatives to popularize non-cash payments, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The two companies will also look at leveraging big data analytics to develop new financial products and services, such as financial scoring and personalized offers for clients.

“By combining our efforts, we will be able not only to increase the reliability of the payment infrastructure in the face of today's challenges, but also accelerate the development of the digital economy,” said Inga Andreeva, CEO of Mastercard in Ukraine and Moldova.

Kyivstar has been testing Starlink’s D2C service since July after securing regulatory approval to offer the service. Kyivstar plans to launch D2C services for messaging platforms such as SMS, WhatsApp and Signal by the end of this year, with full-scale voice and data services expected to follow in the second quarter of 2026.

Kyivstar said the MoU with Mastercard is valid for one year with the possibility of further extension. The MoU also allows Kyivstar and Mastercard to sign separate contracts with other companies for specific projects within the framework.