Pentagon declines to probe Starlink restrictions in Ukraine

The Pentagon's inspector general has declined a request from nine US senators to investigate recent restrictions on Starlink and Starshield satellite internet services provided to Ukraine. The decision was communicated in a Tuesday response obtained by the Associated Press. The inspector general stated the concerns would be better addressed by the Air Force, a move that has raised worries among lawmakers about reluctance to confront the influence of SpaceX owner Elon Musk over defense communications. Senator Jeanne Shaheen called for an independent investigation into the reported service interruptions that hampered Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian attack drones. Musk acknowledged limiting Starlink service in Ukraine, accusing the country of violating terms of service, while Ukrainian officials denied this. President Volodymyr Zelensky attributed the restrictions to pressure from President Donald Trump, and Ukraine has also been waiting nearly a month for US approval to receive Patriot and NASAMS air defense missiles.