Russia aims to deploy 292 Starlink-rival satellites by 2027
Russia's Rassvet satellite network already offers brief connections as its satellites pass over Ukraine, and Moscow now plans to deploy 292 satellites by 2027 — faster than originally intended. Kyiv is reportedly discussing possible countermeasures.
Russia is developing a satellite communications network called "Rassvet" ("Dawn"), positioned as a rival to the Starlink system built by Elon Musk's SpaceX. According to available information, Moscow's plan calls for placing 292 satellites into orbit by 2027. This pace is faster than what was originally planned, pointing to a stepped-up Russian push to accelerate the project.
Already partly operational
Although the full satellite count has not yet been reached, the network already provides some capability — it offers brief connections at the moments when individual Rassvet satellites in orbit pass over Ukrainian territory. This means Russia already has partial access to satellite-based capability above Ukraine, even though the system is not yet fully deployed.
Kyiv weighing a response
Discussions are reportedly underway in Ukraine's capital about possible countermeasures to reduce the impact of the Rassvet network. No specific steps Kyiv might take have been made public so far, but the fact that the issue is being actively discussed suggests Ukraine views the development of Russia's satellite program as a significant challenge.
The build-out of the Rassvet network fits into a broader trend in which several countries, including Russia, are seeking to establish their own satellite infrastructure to reduce reliance on solutions offered by Western companies such as SpaceX.
