Republican Fitzpatrick Warns of Funding Consequences Over Ukraine’s Starlink Restrictions
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick warned that Congress could withhold funding from agencies responsible for restricting Ukraine’s satellite service. Separately, nine senators requested an investigation into communications and intelligence disruptions, including reports that American personnel were endangered.
Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick cautioned that Congress may refuse to fund US agencies if they continue to limit Ukraine's military satellite service, Starshield, according to The Wall Street Journal on Thursday, Oct. 15. Fitzpatrick warned of the consequences for agencies that fail to fulfill their duties in this situation.
The warning came after Starshield restrictions hampered Ukrainian drone operations during Russian attacks, prompting bipartisan calls for an investigation. Nine senators, including Democrats Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Thom Tillis, requested an investigation by the Pentagon's inspector general into the disruptions to Starshield, which are critical for communications and intelligence-sharing in Ukraine.
The senators asked whether Pentagon officials or contractors were responsible for the disruptions, if US officials approved or were aware of the issues, and what steps were being taken to ensure the safety of American personnel.
According to Reuters, the decision to restrict Starshield in Ukraine originated within the White House, though the specific decision-maker remains unidentified. The restrictions impacted satellite connections used by Ukrainian attack and interceptor drones. While connectivity is gradually being restored for drones moving at up to 160 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour), Ukrainian officials noted the restriction still hampers some operations.
One Ukrainian source claimed that drone connectivity requires speeds of at least 450 kilometers per hour (280 miles per hour) to effectively counter Russian drones, as previously reported by Kyiv Post. Elon Musk clarified that Starshield systems, which are owned and controlled by the US government, are subject to military and presidential control, differentiating them from commercial Starlink services.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
