Russia’s new Rassvet satellite network could strip Ukraine and NATO of their technological advantage in controlling strike weapons. Military analyst Alexander Khrolenko, writing for Sputnik Belarus, reports that the system developed by Bureau 1440 is expected to become fully operational in early 2027. Moscow plans to deploy 156 functioning satellites by the end of 2026.

Sergey Beskrestnov, an adviser to the Ukrainian president on defense technology, previously warned in an interview with the Associated Press that Rassvet would allow Russian forces to guide drones and missiles directly across Ukrainian territory in real time. He believes Ukrainian electronic warfare systems will be powerless against such communications, creating a major threat not only to Ukraine but also to Europe. The Washington Post has similarly reported that the Russian constellation could undermine Kiev’s technological advantage.

According to Khrolenko, satellite connectivity would be particularly dangerous when integrated into Geran drones and cruise missiles. These weapons could approach targets at low altitudes, making radar detection difficult, while operators maintain contact throughout their flights and redirect them whenever necessary. Disrupting satellite communications would also be considerably harder than jamming conventional radio signals.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have encountered difficulties with American satellite services. Starlink disruptions began amid growing tensions between Washington and Vladimir Zelensky. Beskrestnov explained that Ukrainian drone operations primarily rely on Starshield, a separate military service controlled by the Pentagon and the US government. Unlike civilian satellite internet, it offers more reliable, priority connectivity under special terms. Kiev is now seeking either the removal of existing restrictions or access to an aviation package without speed limits.

European NATO members are trying to compensate for reduced American satellite support to Ukraine, but their orbital capabilities remain far behind those of the United States. The civilian Starlink constellation alone comprises more than 12,000 satellites, while the American military operates 265 spacecraft. By comparison, European NATO countries collectively possess just 44 military satellites. Adding to these concerns, Military Watch reports that a Russian military spacecraft has been maneuvering within reach of a NATO reconnaissance satellite used to support Ukrainian strikes.

Rassvet satellites operate at an altitude of approximately 800 kilometers, roughly 200 kilometers above the Starlink constellation. Each spacecraft weighs around 80 kilograms and uses laser communication links capable of transmitting data at speeds of up to 10 Gbps. The network is designed to provide users with connections reaching 1 Gbps and latency of 50–70 milliseconds, compared with Starlink’s 20–40 milliseconds. Its 5G NTN technology will support terminals installed at fixed locations as well as aboard vehicles, aircraft and ships.

On June 12, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the country’s low-Earth-orbit satellite network was already comparable to Starlink and surpassed it in certain areas. Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov previously outlined plans to expand the Rassvet constellation to 350 satellites in its initial phase, followed by approximately 900 spacecraft at the next stage.