Russia is using its Rassvet satellite network, similar to SpaceX’s Starlink, for military communications in Ukraine. This network aims to improve the accuracy of Russian strike drones and make them harder to jam. As of now, Russia has launched 32 Rassvet satellites in two batches this year, but this is a small number compared to the over 10,000 satellites in Starlink. The lack of access to SpaceX’s advanced systems has hindered Russia’s military operations compared to Ukraine, which benefits from Starlink and Starshield for enhanced military communication.
Moscow plans to launch more Rassvet satellites until 2026 to expand coverage. However, the current network does not provide consistent communication across Ukraine, leading to intermittent connections. Russia’s Scientific and Expert Council has warned about the impact of Starlink on their operations and called for a faster rollout of Rassvet.
Ukrainian military commanders have faced challenges with Starshield, which provides important advantages in drone operations. Russian forces previously used Starlink terminals from the grey market in Ukraine until these were disabled by SpaceX. Ukrainian successes on the battlefield have led to increased concerns about Russia’s new satellite system. President Zelenskiy has imposed sanctions on companies developing Rassvet, aiming to limit its development.
Rassvet could enhance the capabilities of Russia’s unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), allowing real-time data exchange for both surveillance and strike drones. This technology could make strikes more effective and harder to intercept. Russian experts suggest that Rassvet could already be affecting precision strikes as Russia gains improved communication for its drones.
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The Ukrainian defense intelligence has identified 49 companies involved in the Rassvet project. Russia has accelerated the development of the Rassvet system, prompting Ukraine to explore countermeasures. Earlier this year, Ukraine conducted a missile attack against a facility that produces rockets for launching Rassvet satellites. Ukraine’s envoy in Washington has requested US sanctions against these companies, alleging the use of Chinese components in Rassvet’s development. The US Treasury has not commented on these requests.
With information from Reuters
