Republicans Demand Probe Into Starlink Disruption In Ukraine
WASHINGTON, DC-Senior Republican lawmakers have called for a congressional investigation into disruptions affecting Starlink satellite communications used by Ukrainian forces, warning that unexplained restrictions could endanger lives and weaken Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russian attacks.
Congressman Mike Turner of Ohio and Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said Washington must establish who was responsible for the disruption involving Starlink and its military-related capabilities, including Starshield.
Their demands came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said satellite services had not been fully restored and suggested that restrictions were imposed following instructions from the US government.
Turner, a member of the House Armed Services Committee and former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, rejected the administration’s explanation that the disruption occurred without an explicit government order, saying the matter required a congressional investigation.
“We need to find out who these people are, because lives are at risk and lives are lost over these things,” Turner said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had denied that the administration ordered Starlink speeds to be reduced, saying no one in Washington had directed the slowdown. He added that his understanding was that the service had been restored.
Turner said reports from Ukraine suggested satellite access remained inconsistent, with services restored in some areas but not others. He stressed that Ukrainian forces relied on the affected capabilities to defend their territory against Russian military operations and called for the service to be fully restored.
Cramer, who recently visited Ukraine and met Zelensky, also backed an investigation, saying officials needed to determine whether the interruption resulted from a deliberate decision or a technical problem.
“It may very well have been some sort of a technical glitch. I don’t know for sure or whose call it was,” Cramer said. “So far, nobody’s taking credit for making that call or the blame for it.”
Cramer said Congress could investigate the matter, while an inquiry by an inspector general was another possibility. He also referred to efforts by Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis to seek an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the interruption.
The senator said restoring satellite services was the immediate priority, alongside expanding Ukraine’s ability to target Russian military launch facilities.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent separately rejected Zelensky’s suggestion that the administration had ordered the restrictions, saying President Donald Trump and Rubio had categorically denied any US government role. Bessent described the Ukrainian leader’s allegation as reckless.
Starlink, operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has provided satellite internet connectivity to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. The network has helped maintain communications in areas where conventional infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.
Starshield is a separate SpaceX program designed for government and national security applications. (IANS)
