Pentagon inspector general declines to investigate Starlink disruptions in Ukraine
The watchdog told lawmakers it was a contractual matter.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhii Flash Beskrestnov stated on October 29 that Starlink speed restrictions have only affected Ukraine's defensive capabilities, not its ability to attack Russian oil refineries. The restrictions specifically target defensive operations, including interceptor drones and helicopters. Flash emphasized that Starlink does not operate on Russian territory, explaining why the restrictions do not impact Ukraine's capacity to strike oil refineries.
The origin of the decision remains unclear, as both the Pentagon and SpaceX claim responsibility, with the latter stating U.S. government authority was behind it. Ukrainian officials are still trying to determine who imposed the restrictions, noting that the Pentagon attributes it to SpaceX, while SpaceX points to the U.S. government as responsible.
The issue originated on October 14 when Ukrainian officials reported the restrictions, which impacted connections under the military-grade Starshield service when speeds exceeded 160 kilometers per hour (99 mph). This disruption affected military missions but did not hinder interceptor drones' effectiveness against jet-powered Shahed drones.
Despite claims by Elon Musk and Donald Trump that the restrictions were lifted, Ukrainian military personnel and President Zelenskyy said they remained in effect. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal launched an investigation into the issue, but the U.S. Defense Department's inspector general declined to investigate despite requests from multiple senators.
Written by urgent.news from New Voice of Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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