Rep. Mike Turner, an Ohio Republican, called on Sunday for a congressional investigation into the slowdown of Ukraine's access to a military version of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite network, saying the explanation offered by Secretary of State Marco Rubio was not sufficient.1,3,4
The service at issue, Starshield, is a military-grade version of Starlink that was launched in 2022 and provided to the US government. SpaceX says it is primarily used by US defense agencies and other “government partners.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that the satellites are not tracking antennas on flying objects traveling faster than 161 kilometers per hour, a limit that affects Ukrainian drones used against Russian jet-powered drones and in Ukraine's own medium-range attacks. The disruption came as Ukraine tries to hold back Russian forces in a nearly five-year war.4,5,6
Turner made his remarks on CBS News' “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.” Asked whether Rubio's statement that the slowdown “sort of happened” was a sufficient explanation, Turner said, “Absolutely not. I mean, this is something where there needs to be an investigation. There needs to be a congressional investigation.” The Daily Caller described Turner as sitting on the House Armed Services Committee, while CBS News identified him as serving on the Senate Armed Services Committee.3,4
Turner said that weapons, funding and intelligence meant for Ukraine had broken down before, and that it later came out that “unnamed people in the Pentagon perhaps break it.” “We need to find out who these people are because lives are at risk and lives are lost over these things,” he said. He also said a decision had been made to let Ukraine use Starshield, the US government-controlled version of the network, to defend itself, and that “there should be an investigation as to why, and it should be completely restored.”4
Turner cited reports from the Institute for the Study of War and from Zelenskyy suggesting the service is “spotty,” restored in some areas and not in others. “This is essential to the United States’ support of Ukraine in defending real aggressive attacks by Russia within Ukraine, and this needs to be restored,” he said. Brennan noted that Musk, who owns SpaceX, had publicly opposed Zelenskyy and had said he does not want Starlink used for offensive military action. Turner replied, “this is defending Ukraine against aggression within Ukraine.”4
Rubio said on Saturday that “Starlink is a commercial product” while Starshield “is a defence product, a military product.” He said Ukraine had asked for access to Starshield to conduct deep strikes inside Russia, that “They do not have access to it at this moment,” and that the request was “under conversation.” Rubio also said that “nobody ordered that Starlink speed to be slowed down. It sort of happened. But my understanding is it’s been restored.”5,4,3
At Joint Base Andrews, Rubio rejected Zelenskyy’s suggestion that the disruption was deliberate. “Well, I don’t know what Zelenskyy said. I’m not sure Zelenskyy knows what he’s talking about, but it wasn’t deliberate. We have nothing to do with that,” Rubio said. He added, “No one at the White House ordered anyone to slow down internet or slow down speed so that certain drones couldn’t use it,” and called the reports “categorically false.”5
A White House official told Axios, “we didn’t slow down Starlink at all, and the service is currently operational.” Ukrainian officials told Axios that the network, which once worked on drones flying 400 kilometers per hour, now cuts off at 161 kilometers per hour. Zelenskyy said on Saturday that Ukraine's use of the network remains partially restricted.4
The Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials, that Musk chose to cap satellite internet speed on Oct. 14 without consulting the White House. The newspaper also reported that another source familiar with the matter said Musk consulted senior administration figures and President Trump before doing so. Under the cap, objects flying faster than 100 mph could not connect with Starshield. In an Oct. 14 post on X, Musk wrote, “Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS.” Reuters and The Telegraph differed on whether Musk or the White House was ultimately to blame.6
Trump told reporters as he left the White House on Friday, “I didn’t do that. No, we didn’t do that at all.” An administration official told the New York Post, “this was Pentagon freelancing and it’s not the first time it has happened with Ukraine.” Zelenskyy said, “The message came from government,” adding, “I don’t know from whom, what cabinet, and et cetera.” Rubio said the interruptions on the 13th and 18th were “a technical matter,” and called a claim by a Ukrainian official that people were dying because the US was denying information “scandalous” and “outrageous.” The Post's account dated the Musk cap to Oct. 14, while Rubio referred to the 13th and 18th.6
The disruption occurred as Trump faced criticism from Democrats and Republicans over his decision to waive sanctions on Russia and countries that buy its oil and gas, days before the restrictions were due to take effect under a law he signed last month. Trump signed an executive order on Friday waiving the Russian sanctions and tariffs required under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. Turner said Trump has the authority to impose the waived sanctions and that “I would encourage him to do so.”4,5
Turner faces Democrat Kristina Knickerbocker, a nurse practitioner and Air Force veteran, in the November election. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race “Lean R.” The reports did not say whether any congressional committee has agreed to open the investigation Turner requested, or when Ukraine’s access to Starshield will be fully restored.4
