Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is developing its own satellite communications system and is in contact with Elon Musk, presenting the effort as an early-stage alternative to SpaceX’s Starlink network. Speaking at a summit with African leaders in Moscow, Putin said Russia was taking “the first steps” toward its Rassvet constellation and that maintaining order in orbit required contact with American partners, including Musk, The Guardian reports.
The statement does not establish a new Russian satellite deployment, a service launch or an agreement with Musk. The Guardian reports that Starlink does not operate in Russia and that Moscow’s alternative had an estimated 26 working satellites, leaving its capacity limited. It also says Starlink and Starshield service had been restored in Ukraine after restrictions that Kyiv said affected military operations.
Ukraine is pursuing a different, but similarly sovereignty-focused, response. SpaceNews reports that Ukrainian defense technology company Himera and Danish manufacturer GomSpace began testing the Obria Nano satellite in orbit after its launch on October 1. The companies say the tests will inform a planned constellation providing coverage across Ukraine, with a longer-term aim of producing satellites and ground terminals domestically.
The two efforts remain at different stages: Russia’s project was described by Putin as just beginning, while Ukraine’s initiative has one experimental spacecraft in testing. SpaceNews says the Ukrainian project’s specifications, communications capacity, financing and eventual satellite count have not been disclosed, and neither it nor a related European initiative is expected to replace Starlink’s global network. The evidence therefore shows competing moves to reduce dependence on external communications providers, not a confirmed replacement for Starlink or a newly adopted Russian operating capability.