Why did SpaceX restrict Starlink in Ukraine, and what does Kirsten Grind make of it?

Elon Musk admitted on X that SpaceX restricted Starlink service in Ukraine, saying the network was being used for drone strikes against its terms of service, and blamed the U.S. government for changes to Starshield, the military-grade version. Kirsten Grind says the real issue is that SpaceX controls the satellite system, giving one private citizen a say in conflict zones that nobody should have. The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk ordered the slowdown and discussed it with Donald Trump, which Trump denies.

• Starlink is the consumer service, while Starshield serves governments and is heavily classified.
• Bipartisan lawmakers called for an investigation after the restriction became public.
• A CNBC commentary suggested customers in Europe, Canada and India may diversify away from SpaceX.

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on On with Kara Swisher (2026-10-29). Read the whole episode summary →

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