A bipartisan group of US senators has signed a letter demanding an urgent investigation into reported disruptions to SpaceX's Starlink internet network in Ukraine. Starlink is a vital tool allowing Kyiv to guide drones to Russian targets and protect its own skies, but on Tuesday night Ukraine said it unexpectedly restricted how fast drones could fly while maintaining internet connection. In the letter, sent on Thursday to the US Department of Defense inspector general, the senators say they have "grave concern" about reports of speed restrictions between 12 and 14 October.
The White House and Pentagon have not responded to the suggestion the US might have had a role in the alleged slowdown. The letter, led by Jeanne Shaheen - a Democrat on the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee - calls for the inspector general to find out whether the restrictions were caused by the US defence department or its contractors. It says "restrictions reportedly degraded Ukraine's ability to conduct defensive operations against Russian drone and missile attacks on civilian infrastructure".
Starlink, which is owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX, restricted speed limits on Tuesday night to 100mph (160km/h), meaning any weapons that travelled faster than that lost connectivity to the network. The senators also say they are "deeply concerned" by reports of disruptions or "glitches" affecting intelligence-sharing and threat-warning capabilities relied upon by personnel operating in Ukraine. "We are particularly alarmed by incidents in which U.S. diplomatic, military, and security personnel were unable to reach designated bunkers during Russian air raids," the statement says.
"Given the potentially deadly consequences, these incidents require immediate investigation," the senators add. The letter's signatories include Republican Senators Thom Tillis, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and John Cornyn, alongside Senators Richard Durbin, Jack Reed, Richard Blumenthal and Christopher Coons from the Democrats. Musk says US government may be behind slowdown of Ukraine drone speeds Why is Starlink internet so important on the battlefield in Ukraine?
SpaceX owner Elon Musk has suggested the US government may be behind restrictions. On Wednesday Musk wrote on X that "Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately [the US president]".
Starlink is a civilian service that uses satellites in low Earth orbit to provide internet access, particularly in remote areas. Starshield, which relies on the Starlink network, is designed for government and military use. Both are owned by Musk's SpaceX.
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