Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Chris Coons have asked Elon Musk to preserve SpaceX records on restrictions to Ukraine's Starlink and Starshield services, setting a Nov. 30 deadline for confirmation.
Two US senators have demanded that Elon Musk preserve SpaceX records related to restrictions on Ukraine's use of Starlink and Starshield satellite services, setting a Nov. 30 deadline for confirmation.
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. They asked SpaceX to preserve records dating back to Sept. 1, including communications involving Musk, company executives, US officials and Ukrainian authorities.
The 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 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."
The congressmen also 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.
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.
SpaceX denied making changes.
"This is false. There has been no change," the company told Axios.
Responsibility for the reported restrictions remains disputed.
The demands intensify scrutiny of who controls Starshield restrictions and whether decisions affecting Ukraine's defenses are providing Moscow with leverage during peace negotiations.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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