US lawmakers urge Pentagon to expand Starshield contract for Ukraine
Members of the US Congress have called on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Pentagon to expand its contract under the Starshield programme and restore Ukraine's access to Starlink and Starshield satellite communications following recent disruptions.
Source: a letter from US lawmakers
Details: In a bipartisan, bicameral appeal, US lawmakers insist that services be restored without speed restrictions to ensure Ukraine has the technical capabilities it needs.
Quote: "Ukrainian forces depend on these services for command and control, intelligence sharing, battlefield communications, and the operation of unmanned systems. Any degradation in service, including reduced connection speeds, restricted geographic coverage, or interruptions in access, undermines Ukraine's military effectiveness and provides Russian forces with an operational advantage that will extend the conflict and put more civilians in harm's way."
Details: The lawmakers urged the US Department of Defense to maintain the coverage Ukraine needs to conduct legitimate military operations, including over Russian territory, and to ensure that the transition from the commercial Starlink service to the government-run Starshield programme takes place without any interruption to service.
"Decisions regarding service availability, coverage, and performance should not be left solely to the discretion of a private provider when they have direct consequences for Ukraine's ability to defend itself," the lawmakers added.
They also called on the Department of Defense to consider using its powers under the relevant provision of the Defense Production Act, which allows the federal government to require companies to prioritise government orders.
"The United States and Europe have made significant investments in Ukraine's defence because of how a Russian victory would put our security at risk. Those investments should not be undermined by preventable disruptions to the communications infrastructure on which Ukrainian forces depend," the lawmakers concluded.
Previously: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on 23 October that speed restrictions for Starlink satellite communications terminals in Ukraine remain in force.
The New York Times reported that US senators had warned the White House they would withhold votes on nominees until President Donald Trump's administration ensured the restoration of the communications capabilities used by Ukrainian troops.
A bipartisan group of nearly 20 members of the US House of Representatives called on Trump to ask Elon Musk to give Ukraine access to Starlink systems to target missile launchers on Russian territory.
US Democratic Senator Chris Coons had previously contacted Elon Musk's SpaceX, asking the company to explain who had decided to restrict Starlink's operation in Ukraine and why.
Background:
- The Wall Street Journal reported that Elon Musk had ordered Starlink services to be slowed down. It is unclear to what extent Trump was involved in discussions about the slowdown.
- US Republican Senator Thom Tillis is seeking an investigation into the Pentagon's actions with regard to problems with Starlink satellite communications systems encountered by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
- US House of Representatives member Joe Wilson and nearly two dozen of his colleagues prepared a letter calling for Ukraine to be permitted to use Starlink for strikes on launch sites within Russian territory.
- The Wall Street Journal, citing US and Ukrainian officials familiar with the matter, reported that Trump had called Musk and asked him to lift restrictions on the military version of Starlink in Ukraine.
- On the evening of 22 October, Trump said Musk had already lifted speed restrictions on the military version of Starlink in Ukraine but declined to say whether he had personally called him about the issue.
- Ukraine's Defence Ministry said it was recording disruptions to Starlink and Starshield services on the line of contact.
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