Blumenthal asks Hegseth about reasons for Starshield shutdown for Ukrainian forces

Blumenthal asks Hegseth about reasons for Starshield shutdown for Ukrainian forces
Blumenthal asks Hegseth about reasons for Starshield shutdown for Ukrainian forces

Questions for the US defence minister

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal has initiated a review of the circumstances under which Ukraine lost access to the Starshield satellite communication network developed by SpaceX. The primary trigger for the investigation was the incident on 13 October, when Ukrainian units were disconnected from critical communication channels. Available data indicates that this led to a deterioration in the combat readiness of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In an official letter addressed to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, the lawmaker demands that the specific entity responsible for the decision to impose restrictions be clearly identified. Blumenthal requests clarification on whether the initiative originated from the White House, the US Department of Defence, or whether the decision was made by SpaceX itself.

Military dependence on the private sector

In addition to identifying the responsible parties, the senator is seeking to clarify the technical aspects of the situation. He is interested in whether the US armed forces have alternative solutions capable of replacing SpaceX services. Another key issue is assessing the degree of Pentagon dependence on the satellite infrastructure of a private company.

The aim of the investigation is to determine who actually controls access to vital communication systems. This will help understand whether such restrictions can impact the course of military operations conducted by Ukraine.

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