House Democrats Push SpaceX to Address Concerns About Russian Forces Possessing Starlink Systems
House Democrats are urging SpaceX and its CEO, Elon Musk, to address allegations from Ukrainian intelligence officials that Russian forces are utilizing SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service in the conflict with Ukraine.
On March 6, House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) penned a letter to SpaceX Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell, requesting clarification on how Russian forces may have acquired SpaceX terminals.
Starlink terminals link to SpaceX’s fleet of satellites in low Earth orbit. Following the Russian invasion in February 2022, SpaceX provided thousands of Starlink terminals to Ukraine to maintain connectivity amidst Russian attacks on their existing telecommunications infrastructure.
Concerns about Russian forces using the Starlink service were initially raised by Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) on Feb. 11. GUR spokesperson Andriy Yusov reported that intercepted radio transmissions revealed Russian soldiers using satellite internet in the Donetsk region.
Denying the allegations, Mr. Musk stated, “To the best of our knowledge, no Starlinks have been sold directly or indirectly to Russia.”
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Mr. Raskin and Mr. Garcia are persisting in their inquiries, pointing to a U.S. Department of Commerce report citing Russia’s evasive tactics to bypass export controls.
The lawmakers emphasized Mr. Musk’s denial but echoed Mr. Yusov’s claim of Russia’s widespread use of Starlink as “systemic.”
The letter to Ms. Shotwell expressed concerns about ensuring SpaceX’s technology is not acquired or used unlawfully by Russia.
To know how SpaceX is handling reports of Russian Starlink usage, their investigation procedures, and steps taken to prevent illicit acquisition, the lawmakers urged SpaceX to respond by March 20.
How Russia May Have Acquired Starlink Terminals
A blog post by Ukraine’s GUR suggested intermediaries in Arab nations could be facilitating the transfer of Starlink terminals to Russian forces. The post mentioned an audio recording indicating Arabic involvement in obtaining these terminals for a price.
Although the GUR blog shared some details, it did not provide the specific audio recording, possibly shedding light on how Starlink terminals are reaching Russian hands.
NTD News sought additional information from the lawmakers’ offices and SpaceX regarding the evidence guiding the investigation but received no response
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to evolve, affecting ownership of defense materials, including technological assets like Starlink terminals.
Questions remain about the potential capture of Starlink terminals by Russian forces or illicit transfers through intermediaries, prompting calls for clarity from SpaceX.
