Ukraine blames Starshield speed limits for two deaths

SpaceX limited the speed of its Starshield terminals in Ukraine last week. The military network serves the Ukrainian armed forces. The changes stopped fast-moving interceptors from staying connected to the system.

Ukrainian forces use these interceptors to stop Russian drones carrying explosives. When the speed limit took effect, the drones failed to track targets. This failure allowed Russian forces to strike energy infrastructure with greater ease. The Ukrainian military reported two deaths and at least 17 injuries from the resulting strikes.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian military did not receive notice before the restriction began. The president framed the move as a signal from the United States. Tensions between Zelenskyy and Donald Trump have grown in recent months. Public reaction in Ukraine focused on both leaders. Critics accused Trump of abandoning the country. They also criticized Elon Musk for giving the US president leverage over the war effort.

Accounts of how the decision was made have changed. Musk initially stated that SpaceX does not control Starshield. He said the US military makes those choices. The White House later denied that it ordered the slowdown. Subsequent reports indicated that Musk proposed the change to Trump, who agreed. Other reports claimed Musk ordered the restriction directly. SpaceX has since restored full access in Ukraine.

Ukraine relies on US technology for its defense. Starlink and Starshield provide essential connectivity. Access has been restricted before. In 2022, coverage was not extended to support a counterattack in Crimea. Experts say this event shows how much power one company holds over global space access.

Wendy Whitman Cobb of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies at Maxwell Air Force Base said SpaceX holds a practical monopoly on launch. She noted that competitors like United Launch Alliance, Blue Origin, and Rocket Lab exist. However, she said none match SpaceX in frequency, mass, scale, or cost. Space economist Oğuz Karasu of the Oxford Space Initiative agreed. He described the monopoly as practical rather than legal. Launch accounts for about 8 percent of the space industry, but the rest of the sector depends on it.

SpaceX has placed more than 10,000 Starlink satellites in low Earth orbit. The company launches them on Falcon 9 rockets. Andrew Reddie of the University of California, Berkeley, called the situation similar to an antitrust issue. SpaceX launches support constellations it owns. This leaves little incentive to launch competing networks. SpaceX has launched some Amazon Kuiper satellites, now called Leo. Whitman Cobb and Karasu said they have heard complaints that Falcon 9 prices for low Earth orbit are rising. Starlink prices have also climbed since its 2020 beta.

The experts linked these issues to daily life. GPS and satellite communications affect fuel pumps, ATMs, and financial transactions. Whitman Cobb said a GPS outage could also disrupt ambulance dispatch. Karasu said giving one person so much control is not good for society. Reddie noted that a non-state actor is making decisions that affect national defense. Scataglini of the Oxford Space Initiative warned that one firm could decide which countries get access to space. This is a particular concern for the Global South.

NASA and the Space Force also face exposure. SpaceX is reportedly retiring the Falcon 9 and taking no new missions from 2028. The Space Force is struggling to find launch options for military satellites. NASA’s access to the Crew Dragon capsule is also at question. A Falcon 9 issue in February briefly grounded the rocket. This raised concerns about the Crew-12 launch. NASA continues to support Boeing’s Starliner and contracts with Rocket Lab and Blue Origin. Michele Scataglini said the market needs more competition. Otherwise, it is not a market.