US official denies Trump sought Starlink limits in Ukraine
A U.S. official anonymously denied that Donald Trump requested limiting Starlink service in Ukraine, according to a BBC report on October 16, 2026. The denial follows eight senators requesting a Pentagon inspector general investigation into reported restrictions. The senators' letter, led by Democrat Jeanne Shaheen and signed by four Republicans and four Democrats, asks whether U.S. officials ordered or knew about changes to Starlink and Starshield services or intelligence sharing. It also seeks clarification on connectivity issues and demands a briefing before November 1, 2026. Reports describe connectivity problems for Ukrainian military terminals moving above roughly 160 km/h, affecting drone operations. SpaceX's Starlink is commercial, while Starshield serves military communications, with Elon Musk stating the U.S. government controls its use limits.