House Democrats announced an investigation on Thursday into SpaceX, the company owned by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, regarding allegations that Russian forces have been able to use Starlink internet satellite terminals in Ukraine.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), ranking member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), ranking member of the Subcommittee on National Security, expressed their “great concern” over the matter in a Wednesday letter to SpaceX’s President Gwynne Shotwell.
“Russian procurement of, use of, or interference with Starlink terminals each has the
potential to advance Russia’s brutal and illegitimate invasion of Ukraine,” the lawmakers warned. “Russian President Vladimir Putin personally provoked this conflict with a peaceful neighbor, and his actions have threatened all democratic neighbors and institutions.”
Last month, Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence released intercepted audio communications between Russian forces that indicated they had illegally deployed and used Starlink terminals in eastern Ukraine.
Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, said, “Yes, it’s true. Cases of using of the mentioned devices by Russian occupants have been recorded. This is starting to become systemic.”
Similarly, Ukrainian Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov told the Wall Street Journal that Russia was using thousands of Starlink terminals in Ukraine.
Musk, at the time, denied that SpaceX had sold any Starlink terminals to Russia.
“To the best of our knowledge, no Starlinks have been sold directly or indirectly to Russia,” Musk posted on X at that time.
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Raskin and Garcia’s letter included multiple questions they want answers to by March 20, including how SpaceX works with the government to prevent the illicit acquisition, trade, or use of satellite terminals.
SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment.