Pentagon IG Declines Probe into Starlink Slowdown in Ukraine
Inspector general says matter is best addressed by the Department of Defense.
By Spark News Desk · · United States, Europe
The Pentagon inspector general’s office has declined a request from U.S. senators to investigate recent restrictions on Ukraine’s use of SpaceX’s Starlink and Starshield satellite services. The senators, including both Democrats and Republicans, asked for a probe into disruptions that caused military drones to lose connectivity above 100 mph.
The restrictions were reportedly lifted after about 10 days. The inspector general referred the inquiry to the Department of Defense, stating it is better positioned to address the issue. The Pentagon IG also said it would reconsider if new information emerges.
The Pentagon has not confirmed whether it will conduct its own investigation. The satellite problems were discovered after the administration threatened to withhold intelligence to Kyiv over its strikes on Russian refineries.
Why it matters
Ukraine’s military relies on Starlink/Starshield for communication and operations. The lack of a formal investigation leaves unclear whether U.S. government entities or SpaceX were involved in the service disruptions.
Sources
- Pentagon IG refuses to investigate Starlink/Starshield slowdown in Ukraine — Ars Technica
- Can AI data centers be mass-produced like cars? This startup aims to find out — TechCrunch
Written by the Spark News Desk with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. See our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Tell us.