Democratic senators ask Musk to preserve Starlink documents on Ukraine

Democratic senators on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have asked SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to preserve all documents related to the company's Starlink and Starshield systems in Ukraine, according to a letter released Friday. Democrats, who have gained at least eight Senate seats, plan to make the company's role in the war a key issue when the new Congress convenes in January. The request follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's report this week that restrictions had reappeared on Starshield terminals used by frontline troops, threatening critical air defense capabilities and endangering American personnel. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Chris Coons wrote that recent limitations disrupted operations as Russia continues strikes on Ukrainian civilians, raising questions about SpaceX's control over vital communications. Musk has previously claimed Ukraine's military violated Starlink's terms of service, a charge Ukraine disputes. The senators stated that the United States cannot allow critical national security capabilities to be subject to opaque decision-making or unilateral disruption without government authorization. The Wall Street Journal first reported the letter, and SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment.