OMM Newsroom
A bipartisan group of nine US senators has called for an immediate investigation into reported disruptions to “Starshield” satellite service in Ukraine earlier this week, warning that the interruptions may have endangered American personnel.
In a letter to Defense Department Inspector General Platte Moring III, the senators asked whether US officials approved the reported disruptions or knew about them in advance. They also called for an assessment of whether decisions by the Defense Department or its contractors contributed to the interruptions.
The letter was led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen and co-signed by Senators Thom Tillis, Dick Durbin, Susan Collins, Jack Reed, John Cornyn, Chris Coons, Lisa Murkowski and Richard Blumenthal.
The lawmakers said the reports raised serious concerns about the safety of US diplomatic, military and security personnel in Ukraine, particularly during Russian air raids.
“We are particularly alarmed by incidents in which U.S. diplomatic, military, and security personnel were unable to reach designated bunkers during Russian air raids, amid reported disruptions to intelligence-sharing and early-warning capabilities,” they wrote.
They asked the inspector general to investigate whether interruptions to critical communications or warning systems had prevented American personnel from reaching shelter. The senators warned that disruptions to satellite communications, intelligence-sharing and early-warning capabilities in an active war zone could have life-threatening consequences.
The letter also asks whether the interruptions could have been prevented, whether the Pentagon coordinated adequately with contractors and whether corrective measures are being implemented.
“The United States government has a fundamental obligation to protect American personnel serving overseas,” the senators wrote.
They added that the possibility personnel were endangered by preventable disruptions, inadequate coordination or government decisions “demands immediate scrutiny and accountability”.
The senators also questioned reported restrictions on satellite services used by Ukraine. “Starshield”, developed by “SpaceX”, is a satellite communications system designed for government and national security applications. “Starlink”, the company’s broader satellite internet service, has also helped maintain connectivity for Ukrainian forces and other users during Russia’s war.
The lawmakers said Ukraine previously had service arrangements that allowed unrestricted speeds and questioned reports that those capabilities had been limited.
“To use Starshield and Starlink as intended, Ukraine needs access to unlimited speeds, which was its service arrangement prior to this reported restriction,” they wrote.
