Democratic senators demand SpaceX records on Ukraine Starlink restrictions

Democratic senators have ordered Elon Musk to preserve records related to SpaceX's restrictions on Starlink and Starshield services in Ukraine, which are critical for Ukrainian military communications and drone operations, according to The Wall Street Journal. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Chris Coons sent a letter seeking SpaceX records since September 1, including communications between Musk, SpaceX executives, the White House, and the Pentagon. The restrictions, reported in mid-October, limited Ukraine's ability to conduct strike missions and slow interceptor drones, raising concerns about SpaceX's control over national security communications. The senators criticized opaque decision-making, while Reuters reported the restriction order originated from the White House, a claim disputed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Thursday that military units had again recorded Starshield communication disruptions.