Elon Musk’s dangerous grip on outer space

<figure> <img alt="Elon Musk looking up with stock tickers and Space X rockets." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/STKB355_SPACE_X_IPO_B.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-drop-cap wp-block-paragraph">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 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/18/killed-injured-russia-ukraine-strikes-power-infrastructure">two deaths and at least 17 injuries</a>.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Ukrainian military reported receiving no advance warning about the Starshield speed restriction. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was a direct message from the US amid rising tensions b …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/science/1017443/spacex-starlink-ukraine-elon-musk-monopoly">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>