105 US LAWMAKERS DEMAND FULL STARSHEILD ACCESS BE RESTORED TO UKRAINE
The bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus, representing 105 members of the US House of Representatives, is demanding immediate action from the Trump administration and SpaceX over renewed restrictions reportedly affecting Ukraine’s Starshield access.
“We are demanding a full accounting from the Trump administration and SpaceX on how and why this occurred and immediate action to restore full access to Starshield,” the caucus announced.
Ukraine says systematic speed restrictions are now operating across Ukrainian-controlled territory and along the frontline, preventing connected systems from functioning normally above approximately 161 kilometers per hour. This directly affects the high-speed interceptor drones Ukraine uses to pursue Russian jet-powered attack drones.
SpaceX denies that anything has changed. Ukrainian commanders, diplomats and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy say otherwise—and report that Russian weapons have already reached their targets because Ukrainian interceptors could not maintain the speed and connectivity required to catch them.
The same problem was reported in October. Congress asked who ordered those restrictions, whether the decision came from SpaceX, the Pentagon or the White House and why Ukraine received no warning. Weeks later, the restrictions have reportedly returned without a transparent explanation.
After the midterm elections, these lawmakers carry greater political weight and are making clear that the issue will not simply be pushed aside. They can continue demanding records, questioning officials and using congressional oversight to determine who possessed the authority to alter a battlefield communications system during an active Russian bombing campaign.
Their voices must remain unrelenting. Ukraine cannot be expected to fight with critical equipment that can be quietly restricted without warning while responsibility disappears between a private corporation, the Pentagon and the White House.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops must bear the immediate consequences. Operators will adapt routes, modify equipment, develop alternative communication systems and continue intercepting Russian drones through the ingenuity that has kept Ukraine fighting.
But they should never have been forced to improvise around a restriction imposed on technology provided by an ally. Every hour that full access remains unavailable gives Russia an operational advantage—and places more Ukrainian soldiers and civilians in danger.