Pentagon Inspector General Declines Probe Into Starlink Cuts for Ukraine

The Pentagon’s Office of the Inspector General rejected a bipartisan request to investigate recent speed reductions in Starlink and Starshield services for Ukraine. The watchdog body informed nine lawmakers that the United States Air Force is the appropriate entity to address their concerns regarding the communication disruptions.

The senators asked the inspector general to determine if any US government officials directed or approved the changes to the satellite systems. Ukrainian officials reported in October that restricted connection speeds hindered their ability to intercept Russian jet attack drones. The group of nine included four Republicans and five Democrats.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, criticized the decision. She stated that the inspector general’s refusal to investigate satellite communication disruptions that Ukraine relies on to protect civilians is concerning. Shaheen noted that the Trump administration and SpaceX have provided conflicting accounts of what caused the issues.

Mollie Halpern, a spokesperson for the inspector general’s office, said the office carefully considered the congressional request. She stated that the matters raised were best addressed by the Department of Defense. Halpern added that the Pentagon may revisit the decision if new information arises.

Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX, has made specific claims about the restrictions. On October 24, he asserted that the Ukrainian military violated the terms of use for the communications system. He also said that if Starlink were switched off, the Ukrainian front line would collapse immediately. On October 21, Musk wrote that limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately President Donald Trump.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Starlink and Starshield equipment stopped working at speeds of 130 to 161 km/h in various sectors of the front line. He noted that the publicity surrounding the restrictions has helped restore the system’s operation to the required speed. The Air Force did not immediately respond to messages requesting comment on the matter.