Republican Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) is not satisfied with the official story on Ukraine's disrupted Starshield satellite access. He wants a Pentagon inspector general investigation, and he's warning that the incident could represent a deliberate "decision to clear the field for a Russian attack" rather than some technical failure.

Tillis Demands Answers From Pentagon Over Starshield

"The latest reporting suggests this strategic snafu may have occurred more locally within DOD Starshield systems, not with Starlink or SpaceX," Tillis wrote late Wednesday on X.

"I'm not holding my breath for Defense Secretary [Pete] Hegseth to offer transparency," Tillis said, pledging to seek an inspector-general investigation.

He warned that Ukrainian civilians and American personnel faced unnecessary risks, calling the disruption "at best" an "unacceptable error or lapse."

White House Faces Scrutiny Over Ukraine Restrictions

Reuters reported Thursday that two U.S. officials and a Western official traced the restriction order to the White House. However, a senior U.S. official denied President Donald Trump personally requested it.

The development follows Tillis' earlier criticism of Elon Musk, when he questioned whether Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: SPCX) had deliberately restricted Ukraine's satellite access and warned that supporting Ukrainian sovereignty "should not be a gray area." Tillis has also questioned Hegseth's leadership, previously declaring that the defense secretary had "lost my confidence" amid concerns about the Pentagon's handling of military operations.

Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) demanded accountability from Trump and Musk, while Republican Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) argued that restricting intelligence and satellite access amounted to "aiding the invader."

The criticism comes as Trump pressures Kyiv to halt Russian refinery strikes amid soaring fuel prices. His Russian diesel deal has also drawn scrutiny.

Starshield Disruptions Hamper Ukraine's Drone Defense Operations

Reuters report also noted that Starshield terminals faced restrictions on fast-moving drones, disrupting Ukrainian strike and interceptor operations.

Musk maintained that Washington controls Starshield, prompting Anthony Scaramucci to redirect criticism toward the Trump administration.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the restrictions a "big mistake," warning they could cost lives.

The Associated Press separately reported that some Ukrainian units regained connectivity Thursday, although questions about the disruption's origins remained unanswered.