Ukraine’s military intelligence service is warning that Russia is accelerating deployment of its planned Rassvet low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation, which could eventually provide Moscow with Starlink-like battlefield connectivity.
Russia’s planned Starlink-like Rassvet constellation
“They have already begun launching it much faster than originally planned,” Maj. Gen. Vadym Skibitskiy, deputy head of Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence service, told RBC-Ukraine this week, according to Reuters. He said Rassvet currently works only intermittently when satellites pass over Ukraine, but Russia plans to field 292 spacecraft by 2027 and 924 by 2035.
“Once Russia deploys a full satellite constellation, the system will operate like Starlink. Discussions are already underway on how to counter it,” Skibitskiy said. Russia’s push follows Kyiv’s successful effort earlier this year to persuade Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX) to disable unauthorized Starlink terminals used by Russian forces, disrupting Moscow’s battlefield connectivity.
It was reported in February that Elon Musk allowed broader Starlink use to support Ukraine after Kyiv pressed SpaceX to block Russian access. The network has become central to Ukrainian drone operations, while Russia has also tried jamming Starlink links used by Ukrainian strike units.
Benzinga reached out to SpaceX for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
Ukraine Faces Growing Missile Defense Pressure
The Rassvet threat comes as Ukraine faces a missile-defense crunch. Skibitskiy said Russia had already met its annual production goals for the Zircon and Oniks missiles within seven months and was running 10% to 20% ahead of broader 2026 missile production targets. He estimated Moscow had about 130 Iskander-M ballistic missiles after producing 65 in July.
Kyiv has repeatedly warned that dwindling interceptor supplies could leave cities and energy infrastructure exposed this winter. Ukraine’s envoy to Washington, Olha Stefanishyna, recently said, “The devastating effect of every overnight attack right now is unbelievable,” adding, “We need the missiles.” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has separately sought an emergency package of 300 Patriot interceptors.
Those shortages are becoming more dangerous as Russia receives additional military support. AP reported this week that Zelenskyy said Moscow used North Korean ballistic missiles in an attack on Zaporizhzhia and warned Pyongyang was preparing to send more troops.
Kyiv Presses Musk for Wider Starlink Access
Ukraine is also pressing Musk to activate Starlink over Russian territory. Fire Point executive Iryna Terekh told Politico that doing so would improve long-range Ukrainian strikes. “Our effectiveness would really rise,” she said.
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