Russia is trying to create its own version of low-orbit satellites for providing internet coverage, and success in its development could make Ukraine significantly more vulnerable, writes Politico.
Earlier this year, after the then Ukrainian Defense Minister managed to convince American businessman Elon Musk that the Russians should disable access to Starlink satellites, the Ukrainians managed to achieve success on the battlefield. Disabling the satellite made it difficult for Moscow’s forces to navigate and communicate.
Now Russia is rushing to create a Starlink equivalent satellite system called Rassvet. It is being built by the Russian cosmonautics company Bureau 1440. Major General Vadim Skibitsky of the Ukrainian army warned that the development is proceeding much faster than planned.
Russia launched the first 16 satellites in March, and Bureau 1440 reported in July that more had been launched. The company said in a statement that the satellite had successfully separated from its launch vehicle and had established contact with the flight control center.
After completing tests and installing subsystems, the satellites will go into orbit to provide communications.
Serhiy Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said on August 11 that Russia has now launched about 40 Rassvet satellites. By 2027, Russia plans to create a network of 292 satellites that would regularly fly over Eastern Europe, and by 20235, the number of satellites is planned to increase to 924.
Once Rassvet becomes operational, they will become a serious problem for Ukraine. Beskrestnov said that Russia will be able to attack the entire country with drones controlled by satellites. Rassvet also poses a problem for the whole of Europe, because Russia will be able to control the drones far from its territory. The Russian satellite system is already partially capable of operating in Ukraine.
The threat posed by Rassvet has forced Ukraine to increase pressure on Musk to obtain permission to use Starlink signals even when the Ukrainians direct the drones over Russia. So far, this has not been allowed. If Musk were to change his position, it would help Ukraine maintain an advantage on the battlefield.
Read also: Ukraine strikes Russian grain export terminals