Russia Is Using Its Own Starlink Analog in the War Against Ukraine: What Is Known About the Kremlin’s New Satellite Technology

Russia is already using a new satellite communication system called Rassvet, being developed as an analog to Starlink, for military operations over Ukrainian territory. It can help Russian forces exchange data with drones in real time, change attack UAV routes during flight, and make their interception by electronic warfare systems more difficult.

Reported the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (HUR).

According to Ukrainian intelligence, during 2026 Russia launched 32 satellites of the Rassvet system into orbit. The launches occurred in two batches — in March and July.

Moscow plans to continue deploying the satellite constellation through the end of 2026. This should gradually expand the geographic coverage and move the system toward a full low-Earth-orbit satellite communications network. At the same time, the current number of satellites is insufficient for continuous coverage of the entire territory of Ukraine. As HUR representative Andriy Yusov explained, connectivity is available periodically — when satellites pass over the relevant areas.

For comparison, SpaceX’s Starlink network comprises over 10 thousand satellites. Its military version, Starshield, operates in Ukraine but is not available to Russia.

According to HUR, the new system can provide two-way data exchange between Russian forces and drones over Ukraine.

In particular, reconnaissance drones will be able to transmit information in real time, and operators will be able to change the routes of attack drones while they are already in flight. This will reduce Russian UAVs’ dependence on preprogrammed routes. With this capability, drones could potentially adjust flights based on changing target locations or attempt to evade Ukrainian air defenses.

HUR believes that in the future this could increase the effectiveness of Russian strike and reconnaissance drones, as well as complicate their detection and interception by electronic warfare systems.

Kyiv security expert Mykola Zyentsev also pointed to the system’s possible impact on the accuracy of strikes by Russian loitering munitions. In his assessment, Russia already has at least two quality satellite communication windows per day, each lasting more than an hour.

Rassvet is being developed by the Russian company Bureau 1440, which coordinates the state project. The company has announced plans to create a constellation of over 900 satellites by 2035. According to Ukrainian intelligence, 49 companies from Russia and Belarus are involved in the project. Last week, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky imposed sanctions on ten companies involved in developing the satellite system, including Bureau 1440.

Ukraine is also seeking additional restrictions against project participants from the United States. Ukraine’s Chargé d’Affaires in Washington, Denys Siienk, told Reuters that Russia is developing a Starlink analog using Chinese components.