As Starlink curbs Ukraine turmoil, Putin calls Elon Musk a ‘real genius’ as Russia plans rival network | Today’s news
Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed Elon Musk as a “real genius” as Russia develops its own Rassvet satellite internet network, even as the SpaceX chief imposes restrictions on the Starlink system that could disrupt military operations in Ukraine.
Starlink, operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has become critical to Ukraine’s battlefield communications, drone operations and air defense since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The restrictions have highlighted Ukraine’s dependence on a privately controlled satellite network and raised questions about Musk’s influence over access to technology used in the war.
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Putin said this while discussing Russia’s efforts to create a domestic alternative to Starlink. He acknowledged that Moscow is just beginning to build its satellite network, although he praised Musk’s technological achievements.
“Elon Musk is a genius, a real genius,” Putin said, according to reports.
He also said that Russia is in close contact with US partners, including Musk, and stressed the importance of ensuring that satellite networks do not interfere with each other in orbit.
Musk restricts use of Starlink in Ukraine: Why?
Restrictions on Starlink in October reportedly disrupted Ukrainian military operations and affected drone strikes and efforts to intercept Russian attack drones. Some operations were canceled because Ukrainian forces had connectivity issues.
Elon Musk later said that SpaceX enforced its terms of service after Ukraine allegedly used the civilian Starlink network for offensive drone strikes.
“This loophole was closed last week,” Musk wrote on X.
“The use of Starlink, a civilian commercial service, to carry out drone attacks to kill people has never been allowed and should not be,” he added in another post.
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Elon Musk said the company enforced its terms of service after they were circumvented. However, neither Musk nor the US government initially accepted responsibility for imposing the restrictions. Musk has previously said that speed limits or the use of Starshield, the military-focused counterpart to Starlink, were decided by the US military and ultimately by the US president.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticized Kyiv’s restriction of access to Starlink, which Ukraine uses to defend against Russian missile and drone attacks.
Ukraine said on October 24 that Starlink and Starshield operations had resumed and connection speeds had returned to the required level. The Wall Street Journal reported that US President Donald Trump had spoken to Musk and asked him to lift the restrictions.
Russia is building its own Starlink alternative
Russia is developing Rassvet, a low-orbit broadband satellite constellation operated by Bureau 1440. The project aims to provide satellite Internet connectivity and reduce the country’s dependence on foreign technology.
Russian officials said the country had launched more than 30 satellites as part of the effort. Bureau 1440 launched its first 16 production satellites in March and the second batch in July.
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The network is focusing on commercial services next year and aims to deploy more than 900 satellites by 2035. However, its current capacity remains well below that of Starlink, which operates a constellation of thousands of satellites.
While discussing Musk’s network, Putin acknowledged the gap, saying Russia is taking the first steps but is proud to have begun developing the technology independently.
The Russian president also stressed the need for coordination between Moscow and Washington to prevent interference between satellite systems, despite wider political tensions.
Why satellite internet is important in the war in Ukraine
Starlink has become a key part of Ukraine’s communications infrastructure, helping to maintain connectivity where conventional networks have been damaged or disrupted. Its role in drone operations and frontline communications also gave the service strategic importance.
Read also | Did Elon Musk just admit the Starlink slowdown in Ukraine?
Russia’s efforts to develop Rassvet reflect a growing recognition that satellite Internet is not just a commercial service, but a benefit with implications for national security and military operations.
Building a rival to Starlink will require more than launching satellites. Russia will need to expand its constellation, create a reliable ground infrastructure and ensure consistent services.
Putin’s praise of Musk comes as Russia works to close that technology gap and Ukraine faces the consequences of curbs on a network central to its war effort. This episode highlights how control over commercial satellite technology can affect the course of modern conflicts.
