Ukraine needs access to fast Starshield data speeds to operate drones, along with fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft — which are critical to its national defense.
Ukraine’s full access to Starshield-provided data was quickly restored Wednesday, prompting speculation on Capitol Hill that President Trump didn’t make the call to cut off intelligence sharing with Ukraine but that the decision may have come from senior officials.
Four Republican senators — including two senior members of the Senate Intelligence Committee — signed a bipartisan letter to Platte Moring, the Pentagon’s inspector general, demanding he investigate whether any Defense Department or other U.S. government officials “directed” or “authorized” changes to intelligence-sharing arrangements or Starlink and Starshield services affecting Ukraine.
Starshield is the military version of SpaceX’s Starlink, which provides internet connectivity from low-orbit satellites.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine), a senior member of the Intelligence Committee, signed the letter, along with fellow panel member Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), as well as Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Thom Tillis (N.C.).
The GOP lawmakers expressed “grave concern” over reports that Ukraine lost access to high-speed internet connectivity, which enables it to operate military vehicles flying faster than 63 mph or faster than 100 mph. The loss hampered its ability to fend off Russian strikes.
A Senate source familiar with internal discussions about how to respond to Ukraine’s sudden loss of access to critical military intelligence said senators in both parties have questions about whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth or other senior Pentagon officials — such as Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary of defense for policy — were involved in the decision.
The Hill's Alexander Bolton has the full story.
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