US Congressmen Call On Pentagon To Guarantee Ukraine Uninterrupted Access To Starlink And Starshield

US lawmakers have urged the Pentagon to guarantee uninterrupted access for Ukraine to their satellite systems, Starlink and Starshield, following recent service disruptions. This was detailed in a letter addressed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the US Department of Defense. The congressmen requested restoration of service without limits on speed, full geographic coverage, including over Russian territory, and a smooth transition from the commercial Starlink network to the government Starshield system.

They emphasized that the Ukrainian armed forces depend on these services for command and control, intelligence sharing, battlefield communications, and operating unmanned systems. Deteriorated connection quality, reduced coverage, or service interruptions weaken Ukraine's military capabilities, provide Russian forces with an operational advantage, and put civilians at risk.

Decisions regarding service availability, coverage area, and their effectiveness should not solely lie in the hands of a private provider when they directly impact Ukraine's defense. The lawmakers also urged the US Department of Defense to consider the authorities under Title I of the Defense Production Act, which enables the federal government to require companies to prioritize government orders.

They believe these authorities should be taken into account with existing contract mechanisms to ensure Ukraine's reliable access to the necessary bandwidth, service level, and geographic coverage for its military operations. The US and Europe have invested heavily in Ukraine's defense, as a Russian victory would threaten their security.

They should not have these investments undermined by disruptions in the communications infrastructure that Ukraine relies on, if such disruptions can be avoided.