An artilleryman of the Special Rifle Police Battalion of Zaporizhzhia region sets up Starlink satellite internet system, at a position, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the frontline in Donetsk region, Ukraine, October 16, 2026.
Stringer/Reuters
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The Defense Department’s watchdog has declined a bipartisan request to open an investigation into the slowdown of the SpaceX’s military-grade Starlink system in Ukraine, according to a letter obtained by CNN.

Earlier this month, a group of nine bipartisan senators, led by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis and Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, wrote to the Pentagon inspector general asking for “an immediate investigation” into the disruptions to the Starshield and commercial-grade Starlink systems in Ukraine. Kyiv was blindsided in recent weeks with the speed restrictions, which officials said came without warning and severely hampered Ukraine’s defenses.