Ukraine confirmed on Saturday that Starlink and Starshield, SpaceX’s satellite networks, had resumed high-speed operations after recent disruptions that hindered military communications. The systems, critical for Ukrainian battlefield operations, were previously restricted without warning, according to Ukrainian officials.
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., reiterated his call for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to testify before the Senate if Democrats regain control of the chamber in the midterm elections. Schiff cited conflicting explanations surrounding the restrictions, including statements from President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Elon Musk.
Ukrainian officials stated that the slowdowns made it harder to intercept incoming Russian attacks, while SpaceX attributed the restrictions to violations of its terms of service. Musk claimed Ukraine had bypassed Starlink’s usage terms for offensive military operations, prompting the company to enforce limits. He added that speed and usage restrictions on Starshield, SpaceX’s military-grade network, were determined by the U.S. military.
Zelenskyy previously asserted that the restrictions originated from the U.S. government, stating, “It was the message from the American government to limit this speed, and technically SpaceX did it.” The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had called Musk directly to request the lifting of restrictions.
Schiff criticized the lack of clarity, stating, “You’ve got the president saying one thing, you’ve got Elon Musk saying another thing, you have them both saying different things at different times. Somebody is lying here.” He also raised concerns about the national security implications of a private entity controlling critical military communications.
The Department of Defense has not yet responded to requests for comment from Hegseth regarding the testimony request. The dispute underscores Ukraine’s heavy reliance on satellite communications for military operations amid its ongoing conflict with Russia, which has continued targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure.