Democratic US senators Jeanne Shaheen and Chris Coons have asked Elon Musk to preserve all SpaceX records on restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Starlink and Starshield, according to The Hindu. The request comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said speed limits remain in place along the front line.
The senators asked Musk to confirm in writing by November 30 that the records are being kept. According to The Hindu, the lawmakers sought SpaceX records dating from September 1, including communications with the White House and Pentagon and Musk’s communications with SpaceX executives.
In mid-October, Ukrainian officials said SpaceX capped Starlink and Starshield speed at about 160 kph (100 mph), cutting off faster drones and equipment, according to the Straits Times. Service was restored on October 24. Neither Musk nor the US government, which operates Starshield, took responsibility for imposing the curbs, the Straits Times reported.
On November 13, Zelenskiy said speed restrictions remain along the entire front line and in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, according to the Straits Times. He also said Ukrainian military units had again recorded Starshield disruptions over several days, and that the limits hamper the interception of jet-powered Shahed drones.
Ukrainian forces say Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink, is vital for frontline communications and drone operations against Russian drone and missile attacks. The Straits Times reports the speed curbs came amid tensions with the Trump administration over Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Who ordered the October limits is disputed. Reuters reported that the order came from inside the White House, according to The Hindu. Secretary of State Marco Rubio disputed that account, saying decisions on Ukraine’s access to the service were up to SpaceX and Musk.
The senators said the restrictions raised serious questions about SpaceX’s control over communications systems critical to national security, and criticized what they called "opaque decision-making."
Several key points rest on a single outlet or on officials’ statements. The 160 kph figure and the November disruptions come from Ukrainian officials and have no independent confirmation in the reporting available. No response from Musk, the White House or the Pentagon to the letter or the restriction claims has been reported, and SpaceX has not publicly responded in the sources reviewed.
Zelenskiy expects Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence and Foreign Ministry to work with US structures, and said Ukraine expects the speed to be restored.
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This article was written with AI assistance from the published reporting listed above. It is part of the World Brief daily news podcast.