SpaceX faces opposition to Starlink expansion from Ukrainian group

SpaceX’s bid to put an additional 22,488 satellites into low-Earth orbit is facing a formal objection from a Ukrainian-American nonprofit organization that says it is concerned about the CEO. By Elon Musk “Contacts with Russia and Alleged Use of His Starlink System by Russian Forces in Ukraine.”

In a request for an injunction filed with the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday, the Ukrainian Congressional Committee of America (UCCA) also cited negativity. Environmental effects SpaceX will launch in Texas and Musk’s potential conflicts of interest are due to his work with the incoming Trump administration.

SpaceX’s Starlink system is linked to Ukraine The terminals are there Shortly after Russian forces invaded the neighboring country in early 2022. Next year, the Pentagon Agreed to buy Starlink satellite Internet terminals for use in Ukraine’s ongoing defense against Russia.

However, in September 2023, Americans of Ukrainian descent denounced the SpaceX CEO after it emerged he had foiled a major attack. Russian Navy. Musk said at the time that he told his engineers not to turn on SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network in Crimea in order to prevent Ukraine’s planned attack on the Black Sea fleet in 2022.

“There is a need to determine whether Starlink was used to assist a foreign adversary,” UCCA President Michael Saqiw, Jr., told CNBC about the group’s decision to file the appeal and motion with the FCC this week. “If so, it’s not in the national security interest of Ukrainian-Americans or the country as a whole.”

The UCCA isn’t the only group concerned about Musk’s ties to the Kremlin.

The Wall Street Journal Reported In October, Musk engaged in “secret conversations” with Russian President Vladimir Putin leading up to the 2024 presidential election. Members of Congress and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson have called investigation For those connections.

A month before the Journal story, Newsweek And others have reported that Russia installed Starlink terminals on the Iranian-designed Shahed drones used in their military offensive in Ukraine. Starlink did not respond to the story, but earlier in the year, in February, Musk a Social media post News reports suggesting Starlink is selling terminals to Russia are “colorfully false” and “to our knowledge, no Starlinks have been sold directly or indirectly to Russia.”

Sakiv said his group advocates for reasons of concern for the estimated 2 million Americans of Ukrainian descent living in the U.S. today, many of whom arrived after the war began in February 2022.

The Starlink satellites mentioned in the application will enable the company to deliver Internet services to more locations around the world as part of its Gen2 NGSO satellite system.

Musk did not respond to a request for comment, nor did Tim Hughes, senior vice president of global business and government affairs.

If Sawkiw’s group succeeds on the legal merits, the FCC may have to pause approvals for SpaceX, leaving time for an environmental review and a plan to resolve any conflicts of interest that may arise from Musk’s new role in the coming days. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The DOGE is expected to act as a federal advisory committee that influences regulations, government spending, and personnel. The group could potentially recommend major changes at the FCC and influence oversight of SpaceX and other Musk-led companies.

“Musk’s conflicts run the gamut from financial to substantive,” UCCA wrote in the petition. “Their companies benefit financially from receiving government contracts and from actions taken by the federal government, including the FCC. Putting a muskrat at the head of DOGE is like allowing a fox to guard the henhouse.”

Before authorizing any more SpaceX requests, the motion asks the FCC to determine how Musk will comply with the Federal Advisory Committee Act given his role with DOGE.

Regarding environmental concerns, UCCA’s lead regulatory counsel Arthur Belendyuk said in filings with the FCC that the SpaceX launch facility in Boca Chica, Texas “A biologically diverse and essential habitat area for many species, including wildlife protected under the Endangered Species Act.” Past eventsHe said, “Rocket launches in the area create a real risk of fire and debris spillage into adjacent ecologically protected lands.”

After reports that vibrations and noise from SpaceX launches have led to the destruction of nine nests of endangered bird species in the region, Kasturi X wrote in a post In July, “To make up for this heinous crime, I abstained from eating omelets for a week.”

Instead of addressing the damage caused by SpaceX launches, Musk “responds with sarcasm and derision to the legitimate concerns of local environmental groups,” Belendyuk wrote in the petition.

UCCA filed comments against SpaceX in April in a separate FCC proceeding regarding the company’s request to access additional spectrum for its StarLink network.

Republican FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said at the time that the group’s comments were “procedurally improper and substantively without merit” and that the government effectively sought to “weaponize the law by weaponizing it” against Musk.

Now elected as President Donald Trump has Nominated Cor to lead the FCC in its second administration. Carr’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

Belendyuk told CNBC that his group is “not just focused on Musk or SpaceX.”

Beledniuk said the group has taken legal action to exclude Radio Sputnik, which broadcasts Russian government propaganda, from public broadcasting in the US and is “actively engaged in discussions with chipmakers whose approved products have been found in Russian weapons systems.”

Watch: It is impossible for the DOGE to cut government spending without touching the defense budget