US Congressmen Demand Restoration of Ukraine's Full Access to Starlink and Starshield

Appeal to Pentagon Leadership

A group of members of the US House of Representatives officially appealed to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, demanding the expansion of the terms of the contract for the Starshield satellite system and the restoration of full access to Starlink and Starshield services for Ukraine. The initiative emerged against the backdrop of recent disruptions in the operation of communication networks, which are critical for conducting combat operations.

Key Demands of Lawmakers

In the document, congressmen emphasise the need to ensure the operation of these systems without any speed restrictions. They demand maintaining the necessary geographical coverage, including over Russian territory, as well as guaranteeing the unimpeded transition of military units from the commercial Starlink network to the government Starshield system.

According to the lawmakers, Ukrainian military personnel actively use these technologies for:

• command and control of troops;
• exchange of intelligence data;
• communication on the battlefield;
• control of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Representatives warn that any restrictions on bandwidth, narrowing of the coverage area, or technical failures could significantly weaken Ukraine's defensive capabilities. In their view, this would allow Russian forces to gain an operational advantage and create additional threats to the civilian population.

Independence from Private Supplier

The appeal underscores that decisions regarding the availability of satellite communications, their efficiency, and geographical coverage should not depend exclusively on a private supplier if Ukraine's ability to defend itself directly depends on it.

Congressmen also called on the Pentagon to assess the possibility of applying Section I of the US Defence Production Act. This legislation grants the federal government the authority to require companies to give priority to government orders. Lawmakers believe that these powers should be used in conjunction with existing contractual mechanisms to guarantee Ukraine reliable bandwidth, an adequate level of service, and the necessary coverage for conducting military operations.

Impact on Partners' Security

The document also notes that the US and European partners have invested significant resources in Ukraine's defence. Disruptions in the operation of critical communication systems may reduce the effectiveness of these investments and negatively impact the security not only of Ukraine but also of its international partners.