US senators call for investigation into Ukraine's Starlink restrictions

What the report says

A bipartisan group of US senators has asked the Pentagon’s inspector general to investigate reports that Starlink service used in Ukraine was restricted in a way that may have affected battlefield operations. The letter, led by Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, says the lawmakers are concerned about possible speed limits or other disruptions reported between 12 and 14 October, and wants to determine whether the US Department of Defense or its contractors played a role. The request follows Ukraine’s claim that temporary limits on the satellite network interfered with drone missions and other defensive activity.

The BBC reports that Starlink, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is widely used by Ukrainian forces for communications, drone guidance and air-defense support. It says the network was reportedly capped at 100mph, meaning faster-moving systems could lose connectivity. The senators also cited worries about problems affecting intelligence-sharing and warning systems, including reports that some US personnel could not reach designated bunkers during Russian air raids.

The letter includes both Republican and Democratic signatories, underscoring the cross-party concern. The BBC says the White House and Pentagon have not responded to the suggestion that the US may have had a role in the slowdown. Musk has separately suggested on social media that any such limits on Starshield, a related government-focused system, would be set by the US military. The episode matters because Starlink has become a key piece of Ukraine’s wartime communications and drone operations.