On November 5, the Charge d'Affaires of the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, Denys Senyk, stated that Kyiv is seeking to begin negotiations on extending the access contract for the Starshield satellite network as soon as possible. According to him, the current agreement with the US government expires in 2027, and preparing a new document takes time; therefore, the Ukrainian side believes that "now is the time" to start negotiations. Senyk emphasized that Ukraine needs clarity on whether it will be able to extend the contract.
Contract Expiration and Urgency
The diplomat did not specify the exact month the contract expires, merely stating that it would happen "in the middle of next year." Starshield is the specialized military and intelligence branch of SpaceX, created based on civil Starlink satellite internet technologies but developed for the needs of the US government, the Pentagon, and American intelligence agencies. Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, satellite internet from SpaceX has become a key communication element for the Defense Forces of Ukraine, making the future of network access strategically vital for Kyiv.
October Restrictions: Lack of Explanations
A separate topic of Senyk's statement was the restrictions on Starshield's operations observed last month. The Ukrainian diplomat stated that Kyiv had not received any explanation for these limitations. According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, on the night of October 15, 2026, Starlink restrictions hampered the operation of unmanned systems and the logistics of the Defense Forces. Later, according to unit reports, Starshield terminal operations in the field resumed and continue, while the causes of the previous restrictions, according to ministry sources, are being established in coordination with partners.
The Position of Washington and Elon Musk
On the US side, the picture looks different. According to Reuters, the order to restrict Starshield for Ukraine came from the White House, although not personally from the president. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in turn, stated that Kyiv has no access to the Starshield system. On October 24, American billionaire Elon Musk stated that without Starlink, the Ukrainian front "would have collapsed immediately," and explained the restrictions by claiming that the Ukrainian military had violated the terms of service, so "the corresponding loophole was closed." Thus, the parties characterize both the cause of the restrictions and the current access status differently.
Senate Investigations and Pentagon Inspector Refusal
Against this backdrop, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, according to RBC-Ukraine, is preparing large-scale investigations. According to a Senate Democratic aide, letters have been sent to Elon Musk, among others, prompted by incidents of the Starshield satellite system slowing down in Ukraine. At the same time, it was reported that the US Department of Defense Inspector General refused to investigate the disruptions in Starlink and Starshield satellite systems in Ukraine, despite a request from both parties in the Senate.
What's Next
The combination of these statements indicates that the issue of extending the Starshield contract goes beyond a technical agreement and is becoming a subject of political and parliamentary discussion in the United States. For Ukraine, the key remains obtaining clarity on the terms and timeline of a new agreement before the current one expires in 2027, and for Washington, determining its position based on the results of internal investigations and interactions with SpaceX.
