Ukraine Warns Russia’s ‘Starlink Rival’ Could Open a New Drone Threat
A Ukrainian presidential adviser says Russia’s Rassvet network could improve battlefield communications and enable the real-time control of drones over Ukrainian territory.
Russia's Rassvet satellite network, which aims to rival Starlink, poses a potential threat by enabling Russian forces to control drones in real time over Ukraine. Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, a defense technology adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, highlighted the need to prioritize electronic warfare (EW) systems that can disrupt the Rassvet network.
Beskrestnov noted that while Ukraine currently lacks the ability to use Starlink to control drones over Russian territory, Russia could leverage its satellite network to control drones during attacks on Ukraine in the future. The Rassvet project, developed by the Russian aerospace firm Bureau 1440, plans to launch 16 satellites initially and increase the constellation to 292 satellites by 2027.
Currently, the network offers intermittent connectivity, but it could become a full-fledged alternative to Starlink once fully deployed. Major General Vadym Skibitsky of the Ukrainian military intelligence revealed that Ukraine must act swiftly to develop countermeasures against Rassvet, considering it a top priority.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
