Russia Accelerates Rassvet Satellite Internet Deployment

Russia is accelerating the deployment of its Rassvet satellite internet system, a domestic rival to SpaceX's Starlink, with Ukrainian officials warning the network could soon provide Russian forces with a significant new communications capability. According to Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy chief of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence, Russia has begun launching satellites for the system much faster than originally planned. The network currently has 16 operational satellites in orbit, with a second batch of 16 launched in July, and Moscow aims to expand the constellation to 292 satellites by the end of 2027 and 924 by 2035.

The Rassvet system, developed by Russian aerospace company Bureau 1440, is designed to provide high-speed broadband internet. While it has been marketed for civilian use, Russian President Vladimir Putin explicitly discussed the project in the context of the war in Ukraine during a June 12 meeting with soldiers, stating that work is "proceeding at a good pace" on a Starlink equivalent. Ukrainian intelligence indicates the system can currently operate only intermittently, providing connectivity for roughly six to ten minutes each time a satellite passes over Ukrainian...