Pentagon watchdog declines probe into Starlink slowdowns in Ukraine

The Pentagon's inspector general has declined a bipartisan request from nine senators to investigate recent disruptions to Starlink and Starshield satellite internet services in Ukraine, citing the Air Force as better positioned to address the matter. Ukrainian officials reported throttled connection speeds that impeded their ability to intercept Russian attack drones. The decision has drawn criticism from lawmakers, including Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who noted conflicting accounts from the Trump administration and SpaceX over who authorized the slowdowns. The inspector general's office said it may reconsider if new information emerges, while questions remain about Elon Musk's influence over defense communications. This is not the first such incident, as Musk ordered a Starlink blackout in Ukrainian regions in 2022 over escalation concerns. Following the recent disruptions, Finnish company Iceye partnered with Nokia and Ukraine's defense ministry to explore sovereign satellite communications alternatives.