Bipartisan Lawmakers Urge Trump, Musk to Provide Ukraine Starlink to ‘Hunt Russian Missile Launchers’

Bipartisan lawmakers in the House of Representatives are calling on Elon Musk and the Trump administration to ensure that Ukraine has consistent Starlink access amid reports that the system was slowed, leading to reported Ukrainian deaths.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Musk, the world’s richest person, ordered SpaceX’s Starlink services to be slowed down simultaneously as the Trump administration has negotiated with Russia on a potential outcome to the ongoing war in Eastern Europe that began in February 2022.

The Journal reported that Musk last week “capped the speeds at which Ukrainian hardware could stay connected to the satellite-based network,” leaving drones that Ukrainian war fighters have depended on to fend off Russian aggression as basically inoperable. Meanwhile, Musk initially blamed the U.S.

On Wednesday, a letter signed by seven Republicans and 16 Democrats in the House of Representatives requested Trump to encourage Musk to give Ukraine access to Starlink systems to target Russian artillery.

“We are writing to urge you to ask Elon Musk to let Ukraine use the Starlink satellite internet system to hunt for missile launchers inside Russia,” reads the letter, as reported by The Hill. “With one phone call, you could both save lives and give Vladimir Putin greater incentives to negotiate.”

Republican signatories have been outspoken advocates for Ukraine: Don Bacon, Brian Fitzpatrick, as well as Carlos Gimenez, Andy Harris, Jeff Hurd, Max Miller and Joe Wilson.

“If Ukraine cannot reliably intercept Russian ‘arrows’, it must be able to shoot the ‘archer’. The Starlink system run by Mr Musk’s company SpaceX could help with that,” lawmakers added.

Finger Pointing Between Trump and Musk

Musk pointed responsibility towards Trump and the U.S. military after restrictions on satellite communications disrupted Ukrainian drone missions, prompting accusations that those responsible were helping Russia attack civilians.

By Oct. 15, Ukrainian officials reported that service had resumed, but accounts differed over whether all restrictions had disappeared.

The disruption affected both Ukraine’s ability to strike Russian forces and its ability to intercept incoming attack drones. It also coincided with complaints that Kyiv had stopped receiving customary advance warnings of Russian ballistic missile launches, intensifying questions about the reliability of American support.

Ukrainian officials said the problems began overnight between Oct. 13 and 14 without warning. Terminals mounted on droneslost connectivity at certain speeds, forcing units to cancel missions.Ukraine’s 7th Rapid Reaction Corps reported interruptions lasting 10 to 20 seconds, even below the announced 100 mph threshold. The restriction concerned how fast a terminal could travel while maintaining service, rather than its download speed.

Musk responded by distinguishing commercial Starlink from Starshield, SpaceX’s military and intelligence service. He said the government owns and controls Starshield, therefore determining its operating restrictions.

“Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,” he wrote.

Accusations of Helping Russia

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) challenged SpaceX to explain whether the interruption reflected a policy change, warning that intentionally weakening Ukraine’s defenses “might be construed as aiding and abetting a mass murderer.”

Tillis is also seeking an investigation and congressional report on how the Pentagon reacted to the fizzled satellite communications systems.

“I’m not holding my breath for Defense Secretary Hegseth to offer transparency, so we’ll be asking the DOD Inspector General to initiate an investigation and report back to Congress and the American People,” Tillis wrote on X on Oct. 14.

Credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Bacon has separately accused the administration of helping Russia through reported reductions in intelligence sharing and satellite access. The bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus also condemned restrictions that endanger civilians and demanded continued support.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov warned that satellite restrictions threatened interceptor drones used against Russia’s jet-powered Shahed drones. Slower or disconnected interceptors could leave Ukraine with fewer ways to stop incoming weapons.

Service Returns as Ukraine Resumes Strikes

On Oct. 15, a Ukrainian Defense Ministry source told the Kyiv Independent that Starshield connectivity while moving had resumed, citing reports from military units. However, the source did not establish whether every speed restriction had been removed.

A drone industry source at the time described uneven performance, with service working well in some cases and poorly in others.

Ukraine struck a Russian refinery in the Ryazan region after President Volodymyr Zelensky abandoned the pause on attacks against Russian energy infrastructure. He cited continued Russian attacks despite Trump’s announcement of an energy ceasefire.

The Ukrainian president has accused Musk of throttling Starshield at the request of U.S. officials.

The satellite restrictions do not directly disable the drones Ukraine uses against Russian refineries. Starlink does not operate inside Russia, and those missions use other communications methods. Their immediate effects instead fall on operations in Ukraine, including occupied territory.