Russia now has its own answer to Starlink in the sky over Ukraine, and Kyiv says it is already being put to military use.
Ukraine's military intelligence agency (GUR) told Reuters on Friday that Moscow is using its new Rassvet satellite network for military communications above Ukrainian territory. According to GUR, the goal is to make Russian strike drones more accurate and harder to jam.
"Russia is using the 'Rassvet' satellite system over the territory of Ukraine for military purposes," GUR spokesperson Andrii Yusov said.
Here is what we know so far:
🛰️ Russia has put 32 Rassvet satellites into orbit this year, launched in two batches in March and July. Moscow said last month it had launched more than 30.
🛰️ That is still tiny next to Starlink, which runs more than 10,000 satellites. Its military version, Starshield, works in Ukraine but not in Russia.
🛰️ Yusov said the network is not yet big enough for nonstop coverage. Links only work when satellites pass overhead.
🛰️ Kyiv-based security expert Mykola Zientsev said there are signs Rassvet is already improving the precision of Russia's jet-powered drone strikes, with at least two strong communication windows a day, each lasting over an hour.
🛰️ GUR says the system could let Russian operators receive live footage from surveillance drones and change an attack drone's route mid-flight.
Moscow plans more launches before the end of 2026. Bureau 1440, the state-backed company coordinating the project, is aiming for more than 900 satellites by 2035.
Ukraine is pushing back. President Zelenskyy sanctioned 10 companies linked to Rassvet last week, GUR has named 49 Russian and Belarusian firms it says are involved, and Kyiv's top diplomat in Washington has urged the US to add its own sanctions. In August, Ukraine said it struck the Progress rocket and space centre in Samara, which builds rockets used to launch the satellites.
Russia's defence ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.
Could Russia's own satellite network change the drone war, or is Starlink's lead too big to catch?
#Russia #Ukraine #Starlink #Rassvet
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