US Senators Demand Investigation into Starlink Restrictions for Ukrainian Army
A bipartisan group of nine US Senators has called on the Pentagon's Inspector General to investigate restrictions on satellite communications Starshield (a special version of the Starlink system) for the Ukrainian military, as well as possible disruptions in intelligence sharing and warnings about Russian attacks.
This was stated in an official letter from American lawmakers, published on October 15 on the website of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
The initiators of the appeal were Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who is the leading representative of the minority in the committee, and Republican Tom Tillis. The letter was also signed by Dick Durbin, Susan Collins, Jack Reed, John Cornyn, Chris Coons, Lisa Murkowski, and Richard Blumenthal.
The Senators demand to establish who made the decision to restrict Starshield operations and whether American officials were involved. In particular, they want to find out whether relevant orders came from the Pentagon or other US government agencies, or whether SpaceX acted independently.
The appeal notes that during October 12-14, restrictions on the speed of satellite terminals disrupted communications necessary for the use of Ukrainian drones and aviation. According to the Senators, Ukrainian military observed disruptions already at speeds of about 100 km/h, while SpaceX reported restrictions at approximately 160 km/h.
A separate concern of the lawmakers was reports of failures in intelligence exchange and early warning systems for missile and drone attacks by the Russian Federation.
According to the data cited in the letter, due to such disruptions, American diplomatic, military, and security personnel in Ukraine could have been at risk. The Senators reported cases where US personnel had serious difficulties in reaching shelters in a timely manner during Russian air attacks.
At the same time, the appeal emphasizes that the causes of these incidents remain unclear. The lawmakers ask to check whether the restrictions on satellite communications are related to failures in intelligence sharing, or whether these are separate technical problems or decisions by the American administration.
The Senators also demand to verify whether the Ukrainian side and the US Embassy in Kyiv were warned about changes in the operation of critical systems. A separate question concerns the fulfillment of SpaceX contracts, some of which are administered by the US Space Force.
The Inspector General of the Pentagon, Platt Morring III, was urged to ensure the preservation of official correspondence, contract documentation, technical orders, and other materials related to possible restrictions.
By November 1, 2026, the Senators expect written confirmation of the investigation status and an initial report. The letter itself is a request to start a review, not a notification that an investigation has already been officially opened.
As a reminder, on October 14, the Ukrainian military reported restrictions on satellite terminals while in motion, which complicated the use of drones, including interceptor drones. Already on October 15, sources in the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported the restoration of Starshield operations, however, the causes of the previous restrictions remained unclear.
Based on materials from: US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations