NEW YORK, October 29. /TASS/. The Pentagon inspector general has refused a request by a group of senators to look into recent disruptions to Starlink and Starshield in Ukraine, The Associated Press (AP) reported.

In a response obtained by the news agency, the Pentagon watchdog told the group of nine senators that "their concerns are better answered by the Air Force." The lawmakers viewed that as a refusal to investigate SpaceX founder Elon Musk, according to the Associated Press.

Earlier, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire) said that she and eight other senators have sent a letter to the Department of Defense’s Inspector General, "calling for an investigation into the disruption of the US-maintained Starshield systems for Ukrainian partners." According to the bipartisan group, the above-mentioned government authority should "determine whether any US officials approved of or had advance knowledge of the disruptions in service."

In mid-October, Kiev said SpaceX had introduced restrictions on Starlink terminals used by Ukrainian troops at speeds above 160 km/h, disrupting a number of Ukrainian military operations. Musk, in turn, said the Starlink satellite system was not used for offensive military operations and served only defensive and civilian purposes. He said Starshield is owned and controlled by the US government, which determines usage and speed restrictions through the military and, ultimately, the president. The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk ordered the restrictions on Ukraine’s access to Starshield.

On the evening of October 22, US President Donald Trump said Ukraine’s access to the Starshield military satellite communications system had been restored.