A Ukrainian-American advocacy group has formally challenged SpaceX's plans to launch over 22,000 additional satellites, citing concerns about CEO Elon Musk's ties to Russia and alleged military use of Starlink technology.
The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Wednesday, seeking to block SpaceX's satellite expansion efforts. The group represents approximately 2 million Americans of Ukrainian descent.
At the center of the controversy is Musk's admission that he prevented Starlink activation over Crimea in 2022 to thwart a Ukrainian attack on Russia's Black Sea fleet. This revelation sparked outrage among Ukrainian-Americans and raised questions about Starlink's role in the ongoing conflict.
"We need to determine if Starlink has been used to assist a foreign adversary," said UCCA President Michael Sawkiw, Jr. in a statement to CNBC. He emphasized that such actions would compromise both Ukrainian-American and broader U.S. national security interests.
The petition comes amid mounting scrutiny of Musk's alleged communications with Russian leadership. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Musk engaged in undisclosed discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the 2024 presidential election, prompting calls for investigation from Congress members and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
Adding to these concerns are reports that Russian forces have integrated Starlink terminals into Iranian-made Shahed drones used in Ukraine. While Musk has strongly denied selling Starlink equipment to Russia either directly or indirectly, questions persist about how Russian forces obtained access to the technology.
SpaceX's proposed expansion would add 22,488 satellites to its existing constellation as part of its Gen2 NGSO Satellite System, aimed at expanding global internet coverage. Neither Musk nor SpaceX executives have responded to requests for comment on the UCCA's petition.