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Russia has begun using its newly developed Rassvet satellite network for military communications in Ukraine, seeking to improve the accuracy of its drone strikes and make them more resistant to electronic jamming.
The network, designed as an alternative to SpaceX’s Starlink, is being used to support communications between Russian military drones and their remote operators, according to Ukraine’s Defence Ministry’s Main Directorate of Intelligence.
The Ukrainian intelligence agency confirmed the development in an interview with Reuters.
32 satellites launched
According to Ukrainian intelligence sources, Russia deployed 32 Rassvet satellites into low Earth orbit through two launches in March and July this year.
Moscow plans to launch additional satellites by the end of 2026 to expand coverage and develop an independent satellite communications network.
The current constellation is not yet capable of providing uninterrupted connectivity across Ukraine, but it supports intermittent military communications as satellites pass over the battlefield.
Russia’s state-backed Bureau 1440 is leading the technical development of the project, with plans to build a constellation comprising hundreds of satellites over the next decade.
New challenge for Ukraine
Ukrainian military analysts say the technology enables Russian drones to exchange data in real time and maintain two-way communication with remote operators.
This allows operators to change a drone’s flight path and altitude while it is airborne, as well as adjust its target distance, potentially making Russian attacks more difficult to intercept.
The development poses an additional challenge for Ukraine’s air defence and electronic warfare systems.
Kyiv has also faced technical and connectivity-speed limitations affecting the US-backed Starshield service, which is used by Ukrainian forces.
Against this backdrop, Ukraine has called for tougher international sanctions on Russia’s technology sector to restrict its access to essential components and raw materials and slow the expansion of its satellite capabilities.
