Pentagon watchdog declines to probe Starlink slowdowns in Ukraine

The Pentagon's inspector general has declined a bipartisan request from nine senators to investigate recent slowdowns of Starlink and Starshield satellite internet services to Ukraine, citing the Air Force as better positioned to address the matter. Ukrainian officials reported the throttling impeded their ability to intercept Russian attack drones. The decision has drawn criticism from lawmakers, including Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who said conflicting accounts from the Trump administration and SpaceX necessitate an independent review. The inspector general's office said it may reconsider if new information emerges, while questions remain about who authorized the slowdown and 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. In response, Finnish company Iceye recently announced a partnership with Nokia and Ukraine's defense ministry to explore sovereign satellite communications.