Russia Accelerates Roll-out of Its Own Starlink-Style Satellite Network

A Reuters report dated August 10 indicates that Russia is advancing its Rassvet satellite internet constellation faster than originally scheduled. Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence service, said the system currently operates intermittently with 16 satellites in orbit and is slated to reach 292 satellites by 2027 and 924 by 2035.

Reuters

SpaceX’s Starlink network, which remains active in Ukraine but not in Russia, has been credited with enhancing Kyiv’s drone operations and battlefield communications. Russia previously employed grey-market Starlink terminals in Ukraine until Kyiv successfully lobbied SpaceX to disable them earlier in the year, prompting Moscow to develop its own indigenous alternative.

Reuters

Skibitskyi reported that Russia has already met its annual production targets for Zircon and Oniks supersonic missiles in the first seven months of the year and is exceeding its 2026 missile-production goals by 10 % to 20 %. He estimated the Russian stockpile of Iskander-M ballistic missiles at roughly 130 units, with 65 newly manufactured in July. These figures illustrate a broader push to bolster both communications and strike capabilities amid ongoing hostilities.

Reuters

Analysts note that a fully operational Rassvet constellation could provide Russia with a communications capability comparable to Starlink, potentially altering the dynamics of electronic warfare and command-and-control on the battlefield. Ukrainian officials have indicated that discussions are already underway on methods to counter the emerging Russian network, underscoring the system’s significance in the broader contest for information and operational superiority.

Reuters