On Sunday, Representative Mike Turner, a Republican from Ohio, expressed dissatisfaction with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s explanation regarding the slowdown of Ukraine’s Starlink service. During an appearance on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” when Margaret Brennan inquired if the phrase “it sort of happened” served as a satisfactory explanation, Turner firmly disagreed, insisting that a congressional investigation is necessary. Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that access to the SpaceX satellite network remains limited in Ukraine, as reported by Axios.
Brennan pointed out that although Rubio stated that no one at the White House instructed a slowdown, the consequences implied otherwise, showing a significant impact on drone operations. She played Rubio’s remarks where he suggested that while nobody specifically ordered the slowdown, it, well, happened, but claimed that functionality has been restored.
Turner maintained that an inquiry is crucial, underlining that “this needs to be investigated.” He mentioned that previous issues with weapons, funding, and intelligence for Ukraine had also surfaced due to “unnamed people in the Pentagon,” potentially indicating a deeper problem.
According to Turner, lives are endangered by these service disruptions, emphasizing the urgency for accountability. He cited reports from the Institute for the Study of War and feedback from Zelenskyy indicating that Starlink service is inconsistent, operational in some regions while lacking in others. He argued that the reliability of this service is pivotal for U.S. support of Ukraine against aggressive Russian actions and must be restored promptly.
Brennan added that Elon Musk, the SpaceX owner, has publicly opposed President Zelenskyy and expressed apprehension about Starlink being used for offensive military purposes. Turner countered this by arguing that the service is crucial for Ukraine’s defense against ongoing aggressions.
Moreover, Turner noted that a decision has been made concerning Ukraine’s usage of Starshield, the U.S. government-controlled variant, and asserted that reasons for this situation deserve further investigation alongside a complete restoration of service. Ukrainian officials have mentioned that the network, which previously supported drones flying at speeds of up to 400 kilometers per hour, has now been capped at 161 kilometers per hour. However, a White House official affirmed that there had been no intentional slowdown and that the service remains operational.
In the later stages of the interview, Turner discussed former President Donald Trump’s authority to reinstate sanctions waived under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, urging him to take that action. He also criticized the European Union for continuing to buy energy from Russia, labeling it the “fourth largest offender.”
In the upcoming November election, Turner will face off against Democrat Kristina Knickerbocker, a nurse practitioner and Air Force veteran. The race has been categorized as “Lean R” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
Recently, Trump issued an executive order waiving specific Russian sanctions and tariffs mandated under the law he signed on September 18.
