Russia is accelerating the development of its Rassvet low-Earth-orbit satellite system, designed as a domestic broadband internet and communications network intended eventually to perform functions similar to SpaceX’s Starlink. On August 10, 2026, Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, said Russia was deploying the system faster than Ukrainian intelligence had previously expected. This assessment represents the position of Ukrainian military intelligence and should be distinguished from independently confirmed information about the project itself. The development and deployment of Rassvet, however, are confirmed by multiple sources. On March 23, 2026, Russia launched the first operational batch of 16 Rassvet satellites developed by aerospace company Bureau 1440. The company had previously launched experimental spacecraft to test technologies required for high-speed satellite communications. According to the latest stated plans, the constellation is expected to expand substantially over the coming years, reaching 292 satellites in 2027 and eventually 924 spacecraft by 2035. The figure of 924 therefore does not mean that Russia is currently launching that number of satellites. It represents the planned long-term size of the constellation.
Rassvet is being developed as a low-Earth-orbit communications network capable of providing broadband internet access across large territories, including regions with limited terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure. Its basic principle is similar to Starlink: numerous relatively small satellites orbit at low altitude and communicate with ground terminals, with successive spacecraft providing coverage as they pass over a particular area. With the constellation still in an early stage of deployment, Rassvet cannot yet provide continuous coverage comparable with the established Starlink network. According to Skibitskyi, the Russian system can currently operate intermittently when its satellites pass over relevant areas. A much larger constellation would be required to provide continuous service. In addition to civilian applications, such infrastructure could potentially have military significance because low-orbit satellite networks can provide communications in areas where terrestrial systems are unavailable, damaged or disrupted. This is one reason why Ukrainian intelligence is closely monitoring the programme. Claims concerning its specific future military applications, however, need to be distinguished from confirmed technical information and the publicly announced development plans.
Comparisons with Starlink also require perspective. SpaceX already operates thousands of active satellites together with a global infrastructure of ground stations and user terminals, while Rassvet remains at an early stage of deployment. A constellation of 924 spacecraft by 2035 would represent a significant Russian low-Earth-orbit communications system, but even if that target is achieved, it would not automatically make Rassvet equivalent to Starlink in scale, capacity or global coverage. The broader significance of the programme lies in Russia’s effort to establish an independent satellite communications infrastructure capable of serving civilian as well as potentially government and military users. As of August 2026, operational Rassvet satellites have already been placed into orbit, while the targets of 292 satellites in 2027 and 924 by 2035 remain future plans. Whether this timetable will be achieved, and what capabilities the completed system will ultimately provide, will become clearer as further launches take place. CrossGlobal News presents confirmed technical information separately from assessments and claims made by the parties involved, without taking a position. Conclusions are left to the reader.
