US senators have called for an investigation into Ukraine's Starlink restrictions
Ukraine says temporary speed limits on its Starlink internet network have disrupted its battlefield missions.
A bipartisan group of US senators have signed a letter calling for an immediate investigation into reported disruptions to SpaceX's Starlink Internet network in Ukraine.
Starlink is a vital tool that allows Kiev to direct drones to Russian targets and protect its skies, but on Tuesday night Ukraine said it unexpectedly limited the drones' flight speeds while maintaining internet connectivity.
In a letter sent Thursday to the U.S. Department of Defense inspector general, the senators say they are "deeply concerned" about reports of speed limits between Oct. 12 and 14.
The White House and Pentagon have not responded to suggestions that the United States may have played a role in the alleged slowdown.
The letter, led by Janet Shaheen, the Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, asks the inspector general to find out whether the restrictions were created by the US Department of Defense or its contractors.
"The restrictions have reportedly reduced Ukraine's ability to conduct defensive operations against Russian missile and drone attacks on civilian infrastructure," the statement said.
Starlink, which is owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX, capped speed limits on Tuesday night at 100 mph (160 km/h), meaning any weapon traveling faster than that would have lost connection to the network.
The senators also said they were "deeply concerned" by reports of disruptions or "bugs" affecting intelligence and information sharing. Threat alert capabilities relied on by active-duty personnel in Ukraine.
"We are particularly concerned about incidents in which US diplomatic, military and security personnel were unable to reach designated shelters during Russian airstrikes," the statement said.
"Given the potentially deadly consequences, these incidents require immediate investigation," the senators added.
Signatories to the letter include Republican Senators Tom Tillis, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and John Cornyn, along with Democrats Richard Durbin, Jack Reid, Richard Blumenthal and Christopher Coons.
Musk says the US government may be behind Ukraine's drone slowdown
Why is Starlink Internet so important on the battlefield in Ukraine?
SpaceX owner Elon Musk has suggested the US government may be behind the restrictions.
On Wednesday, Musk wrote on X that "Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limitations on speed or use are decided by the US military and ultimately [the US president]."
Starlink is a civilian service that uses satellites in low Earth orbit to provide Internet access, especially in remote areas. Starshield, which relies on the Starlink network, is designed for government and military use. Both are owned by Musk's SpaceX.
Ukrainian President Zelensky has accused the United States of holding back on intelligence sharing to pressure Kiev to end attacks on Russian energy sites.
On Thursday, Zelensky said the Ukrainian strikes would follow Russia's continued attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure during the "energy ceasefire" announced by US President Donald Trump on Sunday.
Zelensky said he had limited the attacks to three days and would agree to an "energy ceasefire" if Moscow followed suit. However, he accused Russia of ignoring the proposed deal within hours of its announcement.
The Kremlin has never said it agreed to the deal, and Russia said Kiev had also tried to hit refineries on Wednesday - which Ukraine denied.
Zelensky has also criticized the agreement between Russia and the United States to supply 300,000 tons of diesel to the U.S. and world markets, which was reached last week as the U.S. effectively invests in Russia's war effort.
The deal was Trump's latest attempt to lower fuel prices in the United States ahead of the midterm elections, after months of grappling with the political fallout from the Iran war, which has sharply increased fuel costs.