Ukraine's abrupt loss of full military Starlink access has become the latest flash point between President Trump and Senate Republicans, as lawmakers scramble to determine whether the White House ordered the degradation of Kyiv's battlefield communications.
The Ukrainian military suddenly found its ability to counter Russian drone attacks severely hampered earlier this week, with a Ukrainian defense adviser, Serhii Breskrestnov, attributing the problem to a speed restriction imposed by SpaceX on Starlink terminals. The development came just days after Trump announced a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import 2.2 million tons of Russian diesel into the U.S. market, a move Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said left him feeling betrayed. "It's pity that we are losing a strong partner," Zelensky told journalist Piers Morgan on Wednesday.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a vocal Ukraine supporter, publicly challenged SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to explain the disruption. In a social media post, Tillis demanded: "Please tell me these overnight disruptions to Starlink terminals in Ukraine were unintended — that @SpaceX is doing everything it can to fix a temporary glitch." He warned that "intentionally degrading Ukraine's ability to defend itself might be construed as aiding and abetting a mass murderer," referring to Putin.
Musk responded by stating that Starlink's military variant, Starshield, is "owned and controlled by the U.S. government," and emphasized that any limits on speed or usage are decided by the U.S. military and ultimately the president. This statement fueled suspicions on Capitol Hill that Trump may be using Starlink as leverage to force Zelensky to stop attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, which Trump has blamed for high U.S. gasoline and diesel prices.
Ukrainian officials reported that connectivity was being restored at speeds up to 160 km/h by Wednesday afternoon, with former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov thanking Musk and expressing hope for continued support. But the episode has deepened distrust among lawmakers who see a pattern of Trump cozying up to Putin at Ukraine's expense.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who worked with Republicans on a tough Russia sanctions bill, called the reports "deeply alarming" and said "Trump & Musk must be held accountable." Blumenthal and Tillis spearheaded a letter signed by six GOP senators urging Trump to rescind the diesel deal, calling it "a betrayal of our allies." The other signatories — Sens. Mitch McConnell (Ky.), John Cornyn (Texas), Alan Armstrong (Okla.), Susan Collins (Maine), and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) — remained silent on the Starlink issue.
Two Senate sources said GOP senators are still digesting the reports and trying to determine why Ukraine suddenly lost the ability to track and intercept Russian drones. Daniel Fried, a former U.S. ambassador to Poland and assistant secretary of State for European affairs, said lawmakers are reasonable to view the loss with suspicion. "Given the fact of the diesel deal and President Trump's condemnation of Zelensky … the suspicions — while they may not be borne out — are unfortunately reasonable," Fried said. "Pro-free-world senators and members of Congress are right to ask very tough, pointed questions."
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) went further, accusing the administration of "aiding the invader" by reducing intel sharing and Starlink access. "Does the Administration think it will get ANY support for the remainder of the 119th Congress? Their agenda is dead unless they change paths," Bacon posted.
The controversy adds to the turmoil over Ukraine's battlefield communications and comes as Ukraine warns of dire consequences if Starlink access is not fully restored. The White House has not directly commented on the Starlink restrictions, but the episode has become a rallying point for critics who argue Trump is undermining a key ally. Trump's approval ratings have already sunk amid multiple foreign policy crises, and this latest clash threatens to further erode support among Republicans who favor strong backing for Ukraine.
