US senators call for probe into Starlink restrictions in Ukraine

A bipartisan group of US senators on Thursday sent a letter to the US Department of Defense inspector general, demanding an urgent investigation into reported disruptions to Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk's SpaceX, in Ukraine. Starlink helps Kyiv guide drones towards Russian targets and defend its airspace. On Tuesday night, Ukraine said the network had unexpectedly limited how fast drones could fly while staying connected.

What the senators want

The letter was led by Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The signatories voice "grave concern" over reports of speed restrictions between 12 and 14 October and want to know whether they were caused by the Pentagon or its contractors. They say the limits reportedly weakened Ukraine's ability to defend against Russian drone and missile attacks on civilian infrastructure.

Starlink set a speed cap of 100mph (160km/h) on Tuesday night, so any weapon moving faster lost its connection. The senators also cite disruptions affecting intelligence-sharing and threat warnings, and say they are particularly alarmed that US diplomatic, military and security staff could not reach designated bunkers during Russian air raids.

The letter was signed by Republicans Thom Tillis, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and John Cornyn, and Democrats Richard Durbin, Jack Reed, Richard Blumenthal and Christopher Coons. The White House and Pentagon have not responded to the suggestion that the US may have played a role.

Musk and Zelensky

On Wednesday Musk wrote on X that Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government, and that any limits are set by the US military and ultimately the president. Starshield, which relies on the Starlink network, is intended for government and military use, while Starlink is a civilian service.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused the US of withdrawing intelligence-sharing to pressure Kyiv into halting attacks on Russian energy sites. On Thursday he said Ukraine's attacks would continue, after Russia kept striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure despite an "energy ceasefire" announced by US President Donald Trump on Sunday.