The Pentagon received instructions to slow down Starshield services
The order to restrict the operation of the Starshield satellite system, which the Defense Forces use for communications and drone control, came directly from the White House. The leadership of the US Department of Defense received a corresponding notification from officials. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine (Едуард Ткач) citing Reuters, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
The leadership of the US Department of Defense received instructions to slow down the provision of Starshield services by SpaceX to the Ukrainian military. Sources note that the corresponding notification came directly from the White House.
At the same time, officials did not specify the name of the person who made this decision or was responsible for its implementation. Meanwhile, the Pentagon remains the largest customer of the military version of the Starlink service.
Comment from a US administration official
Following the emergence of such data, the agency turned for comment to an unnamed senior official. He denied the possible involvement of US President Donald Trump in this order.
«The president never made such a request», — he said.
In turn, White House representatives refrained from answering questions about possible appeals from other administration officials. The agency’s position regarding the details of the situation remains uncertain.
Reaction of the Ukrainian side
Recently, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that the Armed Forces faced disruptions in the operation of the satellite network. In particular, the Ukrainian military faced the inability to use drones at speeds exceeding 160 km/h.
However, as early as October 15, the situation regarding the restriction of the Starshield military package in Ukraine improved. This is evidenced by data from sources of the government agency.
Call from an American senator
Against the backdrop of these events, Senator Thom Tillis demanded an investigation into the activities of the Pentagon. The lawmaker considers it necessary to check the circumstances of restricting Ukraine’s access to satellite communications.
Illustrative photo: Official SpaceX Photos / CC0
Read also: US Lawmakers Urge Donald Trump to Implement Full Sanctions and Secondary Tariffs on Russia
