Bennet, Welch, Meeks, Colleagues Demand Answers from Musk on Ukraine Starlink Disruptions

About About Michael Legislation News Press Releases Social Media Newsletter Archive Services Priorities Top Issues Child Tax Credit Investing in Colorado Contact Español Acerca de Michael Escribe a Michael Prioridades Servicios Visitando D.C. Bennet, Welch, Meeks, Colleagues Demand Answers from Musk on Ukraine Starlink Disruptions Ukraine relies on Starlink and its military-grade version to defend against Russian attacks on civilians  Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, joined U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), and other bicameral colleagues on a letter demanding that […] Nov 4, 2026 | Press Releases Ukraine relies on Starlink and its military-grade version to defend against Russian attacks on civilians Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, joined U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), and other bicameral colleagues on a letter demanding that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk explain what he and his company know about disruptions to Ukraine’s access to satellite communications provided by Starlink and Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink. Ukraine relies on both systems for its self-defense against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unrelenting aggression. In their letter, the lawmakers underscore that while Musk publicly asserted that limits to Starshield access are “decided by the U.S. military and ultimately POTUS,” reporting indicates that Musk personally suggested that President Trump throttle Ukraine’s Starshield access. Musk himself said that he restricted Ukraine’s Starlink access. “Since the failure of his ground invasion, Russian leader Vladimir Putin turned to a brutal air campaign targeting Ukrainian civilians to wear down public morale. Just last month, more than 300 Ukrainian civilians were killed and 2,000 injured by Russian drone and missile strikes. Ukraine has built an innovative network of drone systems to defend against the thousands of strikes launched each month by Russia. However, these life-saving systems often depend on Starlink’s military version, Starshield, for accurate communication and transmission of targeting data,” wrote the lawmakers. “Last week on October 13, 2026, Ukrainian officials said that their forces suddenly lost access to Starshield communications inside Ukraine for drones moving over 100 miles per hour. That interruption halted Ukraine’s ability to guide its self-defense drones against incoming Russian missiles and drones and stopped Ukrainian attacks against Russian positions. That very night, Russia launched a record-setting coordinated drone and missile barrage at Ukrainian civilian energy infrastructure, using at least 39 ballistic and hypersonic missiles and 128 Shahed-type drones. The strikes killed at least three civilians, including a child, and injured at least 21,” continued the lawmakers. “As a publicly traded company, SpaceX has a legal obligation to disclose to shareholders and the public material events that could affect your business model. The revelation that you personally wielded control over a foreign country’s military communications would require disclosure of elevated risks for corporate governance, geopolitical exposure, and potential adverse actions by foreign governments,” concluded the lawmakers. The lawmakers requested answers to the following questions by October 31, 2026: Have you or any SpaceX official at any point discussed limiting Starlink access for Ukrainian forces inside Russia or Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Trump, or any officials or representatives acting on their behalf? Please provide any such communications or records of communications. Did you, SpaceX, or entities operating on SpaceX’s behalf reduce, shut off, or throttle Starlink access to Ukrainian forces this month—either inside Russia or Ukraine? If so, why and on whose orders? Have you or any official at SpaceX communicated to Ukrainian officials any conditions or actions required for a full or partial resumption of Starlink access for Ukrainian defense forces? Did President Trump or the White House, in fact, make a request to restore Ukraine’s access to Starlink and Starshield systems? Have those systems been fully restored? If so, when? And if not, why not? Which specific individuals, agencies, or entities control the operational decisions from this day forward on restoring full and non-capped access to Starlink and Starshield communications systems for Ukrainian forces? Bennet continues to lead Congressional efforts to support the Ukrainian people’s fight against Putin’s aggression. Upon news of the Starshield and Starlink disruptions, Bennet demanded that SpaceX restore full service. He also expressed his support for Congressional efforts to support the development of a