Russia Rolling Out Starlink-Style Network Faster Than Expected, Kyiv Says

By Reuters Aug. 10, 2026 Private Russian space company Bureau 1440's launch in March of what it said was the first batch of low-orbit satellites that will eventually make up a vast satellite internet constellation under a project meant to rival Starlink. 1440.space Russia is rolling out its own version of the Starlink satellite internet system faster than expected and plans to have nearly 300 satellites in orbit by 2027, according to a Ukrainian intelligence official. SpaceX's Starlink network, which operates in Ukraine but not Russia, has given Kyiv a major advantage in drone operations and battlefield communications. Russian forces had been using gray-market Starlink terminals in Ukraine until Kyiv successfully lobbied SpaceX to disable them earlier this year, one of several factors that shifted battlefield momentum in Ukraine's favor. In an interview with Ukrainian media outlet RBC-Ukraine, Major General Vadym Skibitskyi said Russia currently has 16 satellites in its Rassvet system. "They have already begun launching it much faster than originally planned," said Skibitskyi, who is the deputy head of Ukraine's GUR military intelligence service. The system can currently operate only intermittently when one of the satellites passes over Ukrainian territory, he said. However, Russia plans to create a constellation of 292 satellites by 2027 and 924 by 2035, he added. "Once Russia deploys a full satellite constellation, the system will operate like Starlink. Discussions are already underway on how to counter it," he said. Increased missile capacity Russia has been pounding Ukraine with an array of supersonic missiles as Kyiv has depleted its stock of interceptor missiles. Skibitskyi said Moscow had already met its annual production targets for Zircon and Oniks missiles in the first seven months of the year and was exceeding its 2026 missile production goals by 10% to 20%. He said Ukraine's emerging ballistic missile industry, along with drone production facilities, had become a priority target for Russia's missile campaign. Skibitskyi added that Russia's stockpile of Iskander-M ballistic missiles, the mainstay of its supersonic strikes, was estimated at around 130, with 65 new ones made in July. Read more about: Space , Technology , Ukraine war Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russian Lawmaker Calls for Terrorist Designation for SpaceX as Company Readies Blockbuster IPO SpaceX has provided Starlink satellite internet terminals to Ukraine since the early stages of Russia's full-scale invasion. 2 Min read Russian Aerospace Company Launches First Batch of Starlink Rival Satellites The satellite internet constellation, known as Rassvet, is intended to provide broadband internet access across Russia and serve as a domestic alternative... 1 Min read Europe Aborts Joint Mars Mission With Russia In response, Russia forbade its cosmonauts on the International Space Station from using a particular piece of equipment. Tech Giant Elon Musk Appears at Small Russia Business Forum The organizers invited the billionaire entrepreneur by billboard.