RUSSIA IS BUILDING ITS OWN STARLINK AND UKRAINE IS ALREADY WORRIED

RUSSIA IS BUILDING ITS OWN STARLINK AND UKRAINE IS ALREADY WORRIED

Russia is rolling out its Rassvet satellite network much faster than planned, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence. Moscow launched 16 satellites in March and aims for 292 by 2027 and 924 by 2035.

For now, the system only works intermittently over Ukraine, but once complete it will function just like Starlink. Ukraine is already discussing how to counter it.

This matters because Starlink has been a game-changer for Ukraine. It gives Kyiv a major advantage in drone operations and battlefield communications. Russia has been using grey-market Starlink terminals until Ukraine convinced SpaceX to disable them earlier this year.

Rassvet changes the equation. Built by Russian firm Bureau 1440, the system operates at 800 kilometres altitude and uses laser links between satellites with speeds up to 1 Gbps. Russia has allocated around 515 billion roubles for the project.

Putin has suggested the system could control heavy drones, making them harder to jam. Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces commander called the development a risk for the entire planet.

Russia lost one satellite in June but continues expanding. The second batch launched in July.

If Russia gets its own Starlink, what happens to Ukraine’s communications advantage. And what happens when every major power has its own satellite network in space.