Russia Rolling Out Starlink-Style Network Faster Than Expected, Kyiv Says
Russian forces had been using gray-market Starlink terminals in Ukraine until Kyiv successfully lobbied SpaceX to disable them earlier this year.
Ukraine's intelligence officials claim Russia is deploying its Starlink-style satellite internet system at an accelerated pace, with nearly 300 satellites expected in orbit by 2027. This system, dubbed Rassvet, currently consists of just 16 satellites and has shown intermittent functionality, passing over Ukrainian territory intermittently.
Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine's GUR military intelligence service, reported Russia's current satellite constellation and its ambitious plans to expand it to 292 satellites by 2027 and 924 by 2035. Once fully operational, the Rassvet system will mirror Starlink's capabilities in providing internet and communication services.
Meanwhile, Russia has met its annual production targets for advanced weapons in the first half of the year and is exceeding its 2026 missile production goals by 10% to 20%. The Ukrainian military, facing significant challenges, emphasizes the strategic importance of countering Russia's missile and satellite technology developments.
Written by urgent.news from The Moscow Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
