More than 100 members of the US Congress have sent a demand to the administration of President Donald Trump and the SpaceX company to explain the reasons for Ukraine's loss of access to the Starshield satellite communications system and to immediately restore its functionality. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to official statements from the bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus and Congressman Don Bacon. According to the Ukrainian Caucus in Congress, the throttling and speed reduction for the Starshield military platform significantly impede Ukraine's ability to defend against Russian aggression, and lawmakers argue that such decisions essentially play into the hands of the Kremlin regime.
Bipartisan demand and call for oversight
American lawmakers are calling for comprehensive oversight and the identification of all those responsible for the decision to restrict communications, noting that supporting the actions of the Russian leadership contradicts US interests. Congressman Don Bacon stated: "This situation leads to the killings of even more Ukrainians. These actions help the war criminal Putin." Separately, as reported by Ukrainian outlets citing Democrats, SpaceX head Elon Musk is being demanded to provide explanations as to who exactly made the decision to restrict communications and whether this issue was discussed with President Trump.
What is happening on the front lines
Ukrainian military personnel on the front lines have reportedly encountered technical difficulties in using satellite communications. It is reported that the Starshield restriction for Ukraine is active in a key zone for intercepting Russian drones, which has limited connection speeds across the entire defense line. This, according to the congressmen, significantly complicates the counteraction against hostile jet drones and directly impacts the AFU's ability to maintain defense.
Political context and media versions
Beyond the technical aspect, Western media have reported on possible political motives for such steps. Media outlets claimed that the US may have intentionally slowed down Starlink to exert pressure on Ukraine during negotiations with the Russian Federation. These reports are not confirmed by official statements from the administration or SpaceX and appear in the congressmen's demand text specifically as a subject for the requested explanation and oversight, rather than as an established fact.
Elections and division in Congress
The demand comes against the backdrop of US midterm elections and growing internal party discontent. According to Politico, some Republicans in Congress are expressing alarm regarding the administration's decisions concerning Russia and Ukraine—the lifting of certain sanctions, authorization of Russian diesel fuel purchases, and reports of restricted military and intelligence support. Senators Thom Tillis (Republican) and Richard Blumenthal (Democrat) have stated that lawmakers understand the consequences of the absence of consequences for the Russian invasion. Against this background, a Financial Times and Focaldata poll indicates that about 69% of registered voters are concerned about corruption and conflicts of interest within the Trump administration during his second term, which reinforces the demand for transparency regarding decisions that affect both foreign policy and ties to big business, including SpaceX.
Thus, the incident involving Starshield is turning into an intersection of military, technological, and domestic political agendas: Congress is demanding a public explanation and restoration of access from the executive branch and the private satellite service operator, while the administration and SpaceX have not provided a public response to these demands in the materials provided.
