In brief: Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Chris Coons demanded that Elon Musk preserve SpaceX records concerning restrictions on Ukraine’s Starlink and Starshield systems, setting a Nov. 30 deadline for confirmation. Separately, Congressmen Gregory Meeks and Adam Smith warned that the restrictions contributed to Ukrainian civilian deaths, including children, and strengthened Vladimir Putin’s negotiating position.
Two senior US senators demanded Friday, Nov. 13, that Elon Musk preserve SpaceX records related to restrictions on Ukraine’s Starlink and Starshield systems, as leading House Democrats warned that the disruptions had contributed to Ukrainian civilian deaths and strengthened Russian President Vladimir Putin’s negotiating position.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Chris Coons sent Musk a four-page letter demanding preservation of internal communications, technical records, contracts and correspondence with the White House and Pentagon.
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They gave SpaceX until Nov. 30 to confirm compliance.
Separately, Congressman Gregory Meeks, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Congressman Adam Smith, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, condemned the renewed restrictions.
“The previous intentional limitations placed on Ukraine’s use of Starshield contributed to Ukrainian civilian casualties and the deaths of Ukrainian children,” they said in a joint statement.
“Any restrictions hamper Ukraine’s ability to defend its citizens, strengthen Putin’s hand at the negotiating table, and further Russia’s efforts to consolidate control over sovereign Ukrainian territory.”
‘Trump, Witkoff and Kushner tried to strong-arm Ukraine’
Meeks and Smith sharply criticized US President Donald Trump and his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner over negotiations with Moscow.
“For two years, Trump, Witkoff, and Kushner have tried to strong-arm Ukraine into giving up territory and surrendering, instead of pressuring Russia to end its war of aggression,” they said.
The congressmen called renewed restrictions along the front line and in Russian-occupied territory “unacceptable” if confirmed.
“The House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Armed Services Committee will continue to press for answers and accountability for these actions,” they said.
Senators demand records identifying who ordered restrictions
Shaheen and Coons demanded SpaceX preserve records dating back to Sept. 1, including communications involving Musk, company executives, US officials and Ukrainian authorities.
Their request covers network logs, software changes, operational instructions and records identifying who authorized or implemented the restrictions, as well as any relevant communications with Russian officials.
“The October and November restrictions now raise the disturbing possibility that these vulnerabilities persist even within systems on which the US government relies,” the senators wrote.
They warned that SpaceX’s control over critical military communications raised serious national security and oversight concerns.
Zelensky warns of ‘very bad signal’ to Moscow
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that Starshield speed restrictions remained in place along Ukraine’s front line and across Russian-occupied territory.
“Temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory is ours. Our sovereign territory. And speed restrictions there are a very bad signal,” Zelensky said.
He warned that the restrictions hampered Ukrainian interceptors targeting Russia’s jet-powered Shahed drones and risked signaling that Washington viewed occupied Ukrainian territory differently.
As Kyiv Post reported, Ukrainian military sources said Starshield-connected equipment could not maintain service above 161 km/h (100 mph) in Russian-occupied areas.
“This is false. There has been no change,” the company told Axios.
Responsibility for the reported restrictions remains disputed.
Bipartisan pressure grows
Shaheen and Republican Senator Thom Tillis separately demanded that Washington and SpaceX restore Ukraine’s Starshield capabilities.
“Congress must determine who ordered or approved these disruptions and hold those responsible accountable,” they said.
The bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus, representing 105 House members, also demanded answers and immediate restoration of access.
The latest congressional demands intensify scrutiny of who controls Starshield restrictions and whether decisions affecting Ukraine’s defenses are providing Moscow with leverage during peace negotiations.
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