House Democrats probe SpaceX over alleged illegal export and use of Starlink by Russia

House Democrats Robert Garcia, D-Calif. and Jamie Raskin, D-Md, sent a letter to SpaceX demanding transparency from the defense contractor following reports of potentially illegal purchases and use of Starlink satellite internet equipment by Russia in occupied territories of Ukraine. 

The congressmen also announced a probe of SpaceX by the Democratic House Committee into the company's safeguards and procedures for preventing illegal exports and use of its Starlink equipment and services. The Washington Post first reported on the probe and March 6 letter to SpaceX president and chief operating officer Gwynne Shotwell.

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk enjoyed accolades for providing Starlink terminals and satellite internet service during the early days of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, while Western governments and non-governmental organizations worked to supply Kyiv with air defense systems and critical assistance.

Later, Musk said, "Starlink was not meant to be involved in wars. It was so people can watch Netflix and chill and get online for school and do good peaceful things, not drone strikes," according to an authorized biography of the tech magnate by Walter Isaacson.

The book also said Musk had ordered SpaceX engineers to shut off Starlink's satellite network over Crimea to thwart a Ukrainian attack on Russian warships.

Upon the book's publication in 2023, that information — the accuracy of which Musk has denied — drew the ire of Ukrainian officials including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Kyiv's Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) said in February that there was mounting evidence of Starlink use by Russian forces in the partially occupied eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk.

In a statement on