Russia using own version of Starlink for military comms over Ukraine, Kyiv says

Rassvet is Russia’s new low-orbit satellite communications network, designed as a domestic alternative to Starlink. It matters because Russia wants reliable links for military drones and communications over Ukraine.

Russia is already using it over Ukraine, though coverage remains intermittent. The network can let surveillance drones send information live and help pilots change attack-drone routes during flight. That can help drones respond to moving targets or avoid air defenses, while making them harder to disrupt electronically.

Russia launched 32 Rassvet satellites in two batches this year. GUR says Russia plans more launches through the end of 2026, while Bureau 1440 targets more than 900 satellites by 2035. For now, experts report at least two useful communication periods daily, each lasting over an hour, but coverage is not continuous.

Rassvet is Russia’s emerging low-orbit satellite network, intended to provide military communications like SpaceX’s Starlink. So far, Russia has launched 32 satellites, compared with more than 10,000 in Starlink’s network.

The network matters because it can connect Russian drones with operators over Ukraine. GUR says surveillance drones could send live information, while attack-drone pilots adjust routes during flight. Kyiv-based expert Mykola Zientsev says Russia already has at least two satellite communication windows daily, each lasting over an hour. That could help drones respond to moving targets, avoid air defenses, and resist electronic interference.

Coverage remains intermittent because satellites only connect when passing overhead. Russia plans more launches by the end of 2026, while Bureau 1440 targets over 900 satellites by 2035. The network would remain far smaller than Starlink, but broader coverage could make Russian strikes harder to disrupt.

Russia wants an independent satellite network to keep military communications working over Ukraine. It could connect drones and commanders when ground networks fail. It would also reduce reliance on foreign systems such as Starlink.

For example, Russia is using Rassvet over Ukraine for military purposes, according to Ukrainian intelligence. The network could let surveillance drones send live data and pilots change attack-drone routes during flight. That may help drones respond to moving targets, avoid air defenses, and resist electronic jamming.

Russia has launched 32 Rassvet satellites this year, but coverage remains intermittent. Ukrainian intelligence says two-way links could make strikes more accurate and harder to intercept. Bureau 1440 plans more than 900 satellites by 2035, suggesting Moscow wants a broader, durable military network.

Rassvet could give Russian drones a live connection to their operators, rather than relying only on planned routes. That matters because operators could respond as targets move or air defenses change.

Ukraine’s intelligence service says surveillance drones could send video or other information in real time. Pilots could then redirect attack drones during flight, helping them follow targets, avoid defenses, and strike more precisely. The Kyiv expert Mykola Zientsev reported two daily communication windows lasting over an hour, suggesting practical battlefield effects.

Rassvet remains limited: Russia has launched 32 satellites, far below Starlink’s more than 10,000. Coverage over Ukraine is intermittent, available only when satellites pass overhead. Russia plans more launches through 2026, while Bureau 1440 targets over 900 satellites by 2035. A larger network could improve drone control and make interception harder, especially for electronic warfare systems.

Rassvet coverage is intermittent because Russia has launched only 32 satellites so far too few for continuous service. The network must wait for individual low-orbit satellites to pass over Ukraine, creating temporary communication windows instead of an always-on connection. That matters because military users need stable links for communications, surveillance, and changing drone missions.

For example, security expert Mykola Zientsev reports at least two high-quality satellite communication windows daily, each lasting over an hour. This allows data exchange during those passes, but the link disappears when satellites move beyond the relevant area, limiting uninterrupted drone control.

GUR says the present constellation cannot cover Ukrainian territory continuously. Russia plans more launches by the end of 2026, while Bureau 1440 targets over 900 satellites by 2035. Until those launches occur, surveillance drones may lose live data, and attack-drone pilots cannot always adjust routes mid-flight.

Starlink, through its military service Starshield, gave Ukraine a fast satellite link for battlefield communications and drone operations. It helps Ukrainian forces share information and coordinate operations across the battlefield. Russia is building Rassvet because it cannot access SpaceX’s systems and wants similar control over military communications.

Starshield has helped Ukraine intercept Russian attack drones and conduct strikes. When speed limits temporarily reduced its capacity last month, commanders said they had to cancel some strike operations. Satellite links can connect drones to operators, letting surveillance aircraft send data live and pilots change attack-drone routes during flight.

Russia launched 32 Rassvet satellites in two batches this year, but coverage remains intermittent over Ukraine. One expert says Russia already has at least two daily communications windows lasting more than an hour. Moscow plans more launches through 2026, while Bureau 1440 aims for over 900 satellites by 2035. This could strengthen Russian drones and make them harder for electronic warfare systems to stop.

Low-orbit satellites act like moving relay stations between ground terminals and aircraft. A ground user sends radio data upward; the satellite receives, redirects, and sends it onward. Their lower altitude reduces delay, but many satellites are needed for continuous coverage.

In Ukraine, GUR says Russia’s Rassvet could let surveillance drones send data live and operators change attack routes. In general, electronic warfare can jam these radio signals with stronger interference, or detect and disrupt the connection. This can prevent data from reaching pilots or drones.

Rassvet currently has only 32 satellites, and GUR says Ukrainian coverage is intermittent. A Kyiv expert reported at least two daily communication windows, each lasting over an hour. More satellites could provide steadier links, but the network would also become a larger target for jamming and detection.