Senate Democrats Order Musk to Preserve Starlink and Starshield Records on Ukraine

Two senior Senate Democrats ordered Elon Musk on Friday, November 13, 2026, to preserve every document, message and electronic record relating to Ukraine's access to Starlink and the military-grade Starshield network. The demand turns the repeated slowdowns of Ukraine's satellite service into a matter Congress intends to investigate.

The letter was signed by Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Chris Coons of Delaware. It cites service restrictions in October and renewed Starshield disruptions this week across the Ukrainian front line, which the senators say weakened Ukraine's air defences and endangered civilians and American personnel. Musk has until November 30 to confirm in writing that the records are safe.

Key Points

• Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Chris Coons ordered Elon Musk on Friday, November 13, 2026, to preserve all Starlink and Starshield records relating to Ukraine.
• The letter cites restrictions from October 13-24, 2026, and renewed Starshield disruptions on November 12 across the front line and Russian-occupied territory.
• The senators say the disruptions hampered Ukraine's air defences and endangered civilians and American personnel.
• Musk must confirm in writing by November 30, 2026, that all preservation measures are in place.
• Democrats, who won the midterms, plan investigations into the administration's handling of the Ukraine war when they take control of Congress in January.

What Happened

The letter went to Musk on Friday after fresh reports that Starshield, the hardened military version of SpaceX's satellite internet system, was again slowing down for Ukrainian forces. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on November 12 and 13 that speed restrictions remained in place, making it harder to intercept Russian jet-powered drones. Ukrainian officials say the cap, reported at 161 kilometres per hour, causes drone links to drop when aircraft fly faster — the speed at which interceptors must operate.

The senators want everything preserved: documents, communications and electronically stored information going back to September 1, 2026, including exchanges between Musk, SpaceX executives and the White House or Pentagon. They also want to know who outside SpaceX authorised the caps — whether the slowdowns were a company decision or a government order. The timing matters: Democrats won the midterms on November 3 and take control of Congress in January, when Coons is expected to chair the Foreign Relations Committee with subpoena power over this material.

Background and Context

The dispute is in its second month. In October, Ukrainian forces reported a Starshield speed cap from October 14 to 24, after which full service returned. The Wall Street Journal later reported that Musk himself ordered the October slowdown, and that President Donald Trump then called him and asked him to lift it. Zelenskyy said he doubted Musk acted alone, since Starshield is the government network.

It flared again this week. On November 12, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian units had recorded significant Starshield disruptions for several days across the front line. SpaceX denied any new restriction, telling Axios: "This is false. There has been no change." But on November 13, Ukraine's Defence Ministry said its specialists had recorded the 161 km/h restriction over all Russian-occupied territory, and an unnamed Ukrainian official told Axios that all affected Starshield drone missions were failing.

Starlink and Starshield Records: What the Senators Want Preserved

The letter's scope is deliberately wide, covering all records relating to Ukraine's access to both Starlink and Starshield back to September 1, 2026 — weeks before the first reported cap. That window would capture any discussions preceding the October slowdown, including contact between SpaceX and the White House or Pentagon about the service.

The senators specifically seek records showing who outside SpaceX authorised the caps. If the decision was not Musk's alone, who gave the order, and on what authority? Starshield is a US government service, and the Pentagon has repeatedly said it, not SpaceX, sets the terms for military use. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has denied any US directive was given, while Musk has said SpaceX enforced its own terms — two accounts that do not sit easily together.

Reactions and Quotes

The senators framed the disruptions as a threat to lives, not just a service contract, saying the restrictions disrupted Ukrainian air-defence capabilities and endangered civilians and American personnel, including US citizens working in Ukraine. Zelenskyy made the same point from Kyiv, saying the speed restrictions were making it harder to shoot down Russian jet-powered drones, some of which have already got through,

SpaceX continues to deny that it imposed any restriction this week. Its statement to Axios — "This is false. There has been no change" — is now directly at odds with the Ukrainian Defence Ministry's account and with the senators' letter. That contradiction is precisely what a congressional investigation would be designed to resolve, and it is why the preservation demand arrived now rather than after the new Congress is seated.

Why It Matters

This is no longer just a dispute about satellite speeds. It is a question about who controls a piece of military infrastructure Ukraine depends on to defend itself, and whether that control was used in a way that put lives at risk. If the slowdowns were ordered by someone in the US government, Congress will want to know who, why and under what authority. If they were a company decision, lawmakers will want to know why a private firm could degrade a military network at will.

What Happens Next

The immediate deadline is November 30, when Musk must confirm in writing that all preservation measures are in place. After that, the material will sit ready for the new Congress, which convenes on January 3, 2027. Coons, expected to chair the Foreign Relations Committee, will then be able to demand the records formally and, if necessary, compel testimony from SpaceX executives and administration officials. For the full story of the renewed cap, read our report on Zelenskyy saying the Starshield speed cap is back and slowing Ukraine's drone defence, and for SpaceX's denial, see our coverage of SpaceX denying the Starshield speed cap as Ukraine says the 100 mph limit is back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who ordered Elon Musk to preserve the Starlink records? Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Chris Coons of Delaware, in a letter sent Friday, November 13, 2026.

What records must Musk preserve? All documents, communications and electronically stored information relating to Ukraine's access to Starlink and Starshield since September 1, 2026.

Why did the senators send the letter? They say Starshield restrictions in October and again on November 12 disrupted Ukraine's air defences and endangered civilians and American personnel.

What is the deadline? Musk must confirm in writing by November 30, 2026, that all preservation measures have been implemented.

What happens next? Democrats take control of Congress in January, when Coons is expected to chair the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.