Shaheen, Tillis Condemn Renewed Restrictions on Ukraine’s Satellite Communications, Pledge Further Congressional Oversight

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Thom Tillis (R-NC) released the following statement after Ukrainian officials reported renewed restrictions on Starshield, the military communications service that relies on SpaceX's Starlink network:

"It is outrageous that, just weeks after service was restored, Ukrainian officials are once again reporting restrictions on Starshield, crippling Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian drones across the front line. At a time when the Trump Administration claims to be working toward peace, it is impossible to understand how undermining Ukraine's ability to defend itself gets us closer to that goal. With Putin continuing to target Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure ahead of winter, these restrictions put Ukrainian lives and American personnel in Ukraine at risk.

"Ukraine's military has determined that these disruptions are systematic restrictions, and SpaceX admitted last month that it limited Ukraine's service. SpaceX has yet to offer any explanation for these latest disruptions. These repeated restrictions raise further dire questions about why Ukraine is being deliberately deprived of the capabilities it needs to defend itself.

"The Trump Administration and SpaceX must restore these capabilities immediately. Ukraine is negotiating in good faith to end this war. Russia has shown no such good faith. While President Trump's envoys travel to Moscow, Putin continues attacking innocent civilians, including bombing a center in Kremenchuk serving children with special needs. Just last week, Putin killed 55 civilians as they were attempting to get humanitarian aid.

"Congress must determine who ordered or approved these disruptions and hold those responsible accountable. The Pentagon and SpaceX must preserve all records, turn over the contracts and communications that Congress needs to establish the facts and put safeguards in place so this never happens again. A just and lasting peace requires pressure on Putin, not cutting off Ukraine's defenses."

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