Russia launching its own answer to Starlink faster than planned

Russia is rolling out its Rassvet satellite system – effectively the Russian answer to Starlink – significantly faster than its plans envisaged.

Source: Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, (DIU) in an interview with RBC-Ukraine

Quote: "Moscow is rolling out the Rassvet satellite system – effectively Russia's answer to Starlink. And they have begun deploying it much faster than their plans envisaged."

Details: Skibitskyi noted that Russia already placed 16 satellites into low Earth orbit in March 2026, with further launches planned to create a constellation totalling 292 satellites by 2027 and expanding to 924 satellites by 2035.

"For now they can only operate sporadically when a satellite passes over our territory. When the Russians deploy a full satellite constellation, this system will function like Starlink," he noted.

Skibitskyi also said that "discussions are already under way on how to counter this".

Background:

• Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, an adviser to the Ukrainian president on defence technology development, previously reported that Russia had launched a second batch of Rassvet satellites intended to serve as a Starlink equivalent.
• In May, Flash stated that the Russian Rassvet satellite communications system was in the early stages of deployment and did not yet have a sufficient number of satellites.

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