Russia's accelerating Starlink rival development means that war in space is not just probable; it's inevitable
- Russia is accelerating Rassvet faster than Ukrainian intelligence previously expected
- Moscow plans to expand Rassvet into a 924-satellite constellation by 2035
- Rassvet currently provides intermittent coverage rather than Starlink-level continuous connectivity
Russia is building its own satellite constellation, called Rassvet, at a pace that has outrun Ukrainian intelligence projections, experts have warned.
The program is intended to give Moscow the same kind of persistent, real-time coverage that Starlink has given Ukraine for over three years.
That capability shift is what now makes confrontation over these satellites appear difficult to avoid.
Why Russia's satellite push raises the stakes
According to Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy chief of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence directorate, Russia had already placed 16 satellites into low Earth orbit as of March 2026.
He also claims that Moscow now plans for another 292 satellites by 2027, expanding further to 924 satellites by 2035.
"For now, the system can operate...
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