On 23 October, a bipartisan, bicameral group of US lawmakers wrote to Defence Secretary Pete Hagseth and the Pentagon, calling for the current Starshield contract with Ukraine to be extended, for services to be restored without speed restrictions, and for uninterrupted communications to be guaranteed.
Briefly about the main points
- The letter to the Pentagon was signed by representatives from both houses of the US Congress and both political parties.
- Lawmakers are calling for Starshield’s contract to be extended and for the service to be restored to full capacity.
- The authors of the appeal are calling for any disruption to be avoided during the transition from Starlink to Starshield.
- On 23 October, Ukrainian officials reported that Starshield’s speed limits remained in place.
What actions are being demanded of the Pentagon?
The letter was signed by at least five members of the House of Representatives and three senators, including Jimmy Panetta, Brian Fitzpatrick, Marcy Kaptur, Mark Kelly, Tom Tillis and Elissa Slotkin. The lawmakers called for the existing contract to be extended Starshield for Ukraine.
The authors of the letter are asking for services to be resumed without any speed restrictions. Until services are fully restored, they propose ensuring that Ukraine receives a level of service no lower than before — via Starlink, Starshield or a combination of these services.
Why was the issue of communications described as critical?
According to the signatories, Ukrainian forces use satellite communications for command and control, the exchange of intelligence, battlefield communications and the operation of unmanned systems. They believe that reduced speeds, diminished coverage or interruptions in access undermine Ukraine’s military effectiveness and may give Russian forces an operational advantage.
The letter also emphasises the need to avoid any disruption during the transition from the commercial Starlink service to the government-run Starshield programme — a military service linked to the Starlink infrastructure. According to lawmakers, decisions regarding availability, geographical coverage and connection quality should not depend solely on a private provider.
Coverage over Russia and current restrictions
Lawmakers are calling for the retention of the coverage necessary for Ukraine’s lawful military operations, in particular for communications over Russian territory — provided this is consistent with US law and policy. In addition, they are asking the Pentagon to assess the possibility of invoking the Defence Production Act to ensure reliable and uninterrupted access to these services.
On 23 October, Ukrainian representatives reported that Starshield speed limit remained in force. Public explanations regarding the reasons for the restrictions and who made the decision in question vary; in their statement, the legislators do not attribute responsibility to any specific party.
