US Senate Democrats plan probe into Musk's role in Starshield restrictions in Ukraine
According to CNN, which spoke with a Senate Democratic aide, this will include those who ordered restrictions on Starshield satellite services in Ukraine, Rubryka reports.
The source told CNN that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has asked private companies and government agencies to preserve all documents and records that could serve as evidence in investigations into the Trump administration.
The investigations are expected to begin after Democrats take control of Congress in January 2027.
One of the letters went to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, CNN reports. It specifically asks about restrictions on Starshield services in Ukraine.
Journalists say similar requests went to ports, banks, and private companies that may have been involved in deals to supply Russian diesel fuel.
Earlier, Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine's president and a radio technology expert, reported that SpaceX introduced restrictions on Starlink terminals overnight on October 14.
After the change, satellite connections began dropping when drones traveled faster than 160 kilometers per hour. In some cases, the signal disappeared at speeds above 80 kilometers per hour. The restrictions made it significantly harder for Ukraine's Defense Forces to carry out combat missions, particularly with interceptor drones.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi also raised concerns about Starlink disruptions. He said Ukraine had asked SpaceX to lift the speed restrictions introduced on October 14.
The restrictions came after SpaceX owner Elon Musk backed a statement by US President Donald Trump. Trump accused Ukraine of driving up fuel prices by attacking Russian oil refineries.
The White House, however, denied that the US administration was involved in the restrictions and said they were caused by a technical glitch. Musk said Starshield belongs to the US government, which controls the system.
As Rubryka reported, Ukraine's Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara said on October 24 that Ukraine's Defense Ministry monitoring systems were detecting stable Starlink and Starshield connections at speeds above 400 kilometers per hour. This allows Ukraine's Defense Forces to use the systems for strike drones and interceptor drones.
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