Ukraine's intelligence names nearly 50 companies involved in developing Russia's Starlink rival

Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) has released information on 49 Russian and Belarusian companies involved in developing Rassvet, a satellite communications system that Russia is developing as an alternative to Starlink.

Source: War&Sanctions

Quote: "The system comprises a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites, ground-based control infrastructure, gateway stations and user terminals for fixed and mobile facilities."

Details: DIU said the project involves IT companies, microelectronics manufacturers, research centres, and entities affiliated with Russia's state space corporation Roscosmos and the Russian Defence Ministry.

According to DIU, the project's main contractor is Russia's Bureau 1440, a limited liability company that is part of the ICS Holding IT group. Other companies within the group supply components and manufacture solar panels, user terminals, printed circuit boards, electronic modules and other system components.

"Roscosmos and other companies in Russia's aerospace industry are responsible for developing and manufacturing launch vehicles and upper stages, electric propulsion engines and other satellite components, as well as adapting the satellites, preparing them for launch and placing them into orbit," DIU said.

DIU said Roscosmos head Dmitry Bakanov directly oversees the Rassvet project. He previously headed the Gonets Satellite System, which partnered with the UK's OneWeb and established a joint venture to develop low-Earth-orbit satellite communications services for the Russian market.

Entities affiliated with the Russian Defence Ministry are responsible for operating the spaceport, coordinating project participants, and eventually integrating the system into the military communications infrastructure. Russian bank VTB is among the investors in Rassvet.

According to DIU, 23 of the 49 companies and institutions involved in the project have not been sanctioned by any country in the sanctions coalition. These include Roscosmos.

The intelligence agency notes that Rassvet is primarily intended for military communications.

"Russia plans to make extensive use of the system to support its armed forces, including for strategic communications and command and control, controlling strike platforms, equipping command posts and military equipment with user terminals, supporting the combat use of unmanned systems and ensuring the operation of Russian Defence Ministry facilities," DIU said.

According to DIU, Russia plans to integrate Rassvet satellites into a space-based system that provides targeting data for missile systems and equip the command vehicles of the Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile system with user terminals.

"The planned coverage is primarily intended to include the territory of Ukraine and the EU. Once sufficient coverage has been achieved, Russia could use the system in hybrid acts of aggression against other countries," it warned.

The intelligence agency has called for sanctions to be imposed on companies involved in the project and for restrictions on the supply of components, equipment and software to them.

Background: According to DIU, Russia is deploying the Rassvet satellite system ahead of schedule. In March 2026, 16 satellites were placed into orbit. Russia plans to expand the constellation to 292 satellites by 2027 and 924 by 2035.

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