Elon Musk’s dangerous grip on outer space
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The throttling of Starshield disrupted Ukrainian interceptors that defend against Russian drone attacks, directly contributing to casualties and damage to energy infrastructure.
Last week, Starshield - the version of SpaceX's Starlink used by the Ukrainian military - was throttled to block terminals traveling above certain speeds from accessing the service. The Ukrainian army's interceptors, which counter Russian drones carrying bombs, suddenly stopped working at high speeds, making it easier for Russia to attack the country's energy infrastructure and leading to a reported two deaths and at least 17 injuries. The Ukrainian military reported receiving no advance warning
Starshield is a militarized version of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service that provides high‑speed connectivity to Ukrainian forces, enabling remote operation of defense systems.
- •SpaceX or U.S. officials may issue statements or corrective actions regarding the throttling
- •Ukrainian military may seek alternative communication methods for its interceptors
- •International regulators could examine the use of commercial satellite services in conflict zones