MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin praised SpaceX founder Elon Musk as "a real genius" on Wednesday, October 28, while being shown Russia's own answer to Starlink. In the same breath, he acknowledged that Moscow's satellite network has barely begun.
Putin spoke at an exhibition on the sidelines of the Russia–Africa summit in Moscow, during a presentation by Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev on satellites built for the Rassvet project. "Just a second, I want to point out this is just our first step," Putin said, according to Reuters. "Elon Musk is a genius, he's just a real genius."
"Over 5,000 — While We Are Only Taking Our First Steps"
Shadayev told Putin that Russia had launched more than 30 satellites for its Starlink equivalent, while Musk had more than 5,000 in low orbit. Putin repeated the comparison: "Over 5,000 — while we are only taking our first steps." He said the task now is to "move from quality to quantity."
The actual gap is wider than the figure quoted at the exhibition. The independent tracker Orbital Radar puts the number of Starlink satellites close to 10,000, Reuters reported.
Putin also said Moscow remains "in close contact with our American partners — including Mr Musk," despite political differences. In orbit, he said, it is important "not to interfere with one another."
What Is Rassvet?
Rassvet, Russian for "dawn," is being built by Bureau 1440, an aerospace company that began in 2020 as a project of mobile operator MegaFon. It is designed as a low-orbit broadband network along the lines of Starlink.
Key milestones so far:
2023 and 2024: two rounds of test launches, three experimental satellites each.
March 23, 2026: the first operational batch of 16 satellites lifted off on a Soyuz rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.
July 19, 2026: a second batch, of undisclosed size, reached orbit.
The official plan calls for 172 satellites by the end of 2026, though it is unclear whether that target can be met. Bureau 1440 plans commercial service in 2027 with about 250 satellites, roughly the number needed for round-the-clock coverage. It is aiming for about 730 satellites by 2030 and more than 900 by 2035.
The Kremlin plans to invest more than 100 billion rubles (about €1 billion) in Rassvet by 2030, according to Kommersant. Officially, the network will serve airline and train passengers, remote oil and mining operations, and emergency services.
The Military Dimension
Ukrainian officials see a military purpose as well. In August, Ukraine's Defence Intelligence said Russia plans to have 292 Rassvet satellites in orbit by 2027. Its deputy chief, Vadym Skibitskyi, said Russia already uses the system in the war "in a fragmented manner," when satellites pass over Ukrainian territory.
The push gained urgency in February. On February 4, Starlink terminals used by Russian forces in Ukraine stopped working after Kyiv introduced a whitelist of registered devices, with SpaceX disabling unverified terminals. Russian troops had relied on illicitly obtained terminals, since Starlink does not operate inside Russia. Pro-war Russian bloggers reported widespread communication losses along the front.
The European Union has since added Rassvet to its sanctions list.
Starlink's Own Turbulence in Ukraine
Putin's praise came days after a dispute over Starlink in Ukraine. From October 14, Ukrainian forces reported speed restrictions on Starlink and Starshield, its military version, which they said hampered efforts to intercept Russian drones. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on October 24 that both systems were back at full speed.
Musk accused the Ukrainian military of breaking SpaceX's terms by using commercial terminals for offensive drone strikes, a charge Kyiv rejects. Neither Musk nor the U.S. government, which operates Starshield, has taken responsibility for the curbs, according to Reuters and the Kyiv Independent.
A Pattern of Praise
This is not the first time Putin has complimented Musk. In September 2023 he called him "an outstanding person" and a talented businessman. In April 2025 he compared Musk to Sergei Korolev, the chief designer of the Soviet space programme. In March 2025, Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev floated joint Mars projects between SpaceX and Roscosmos.
The latest compliment also came amid friction in orbit. Last week, U.S. diplomats accused Russia of "deliberately reckless" behaviour after a Russian military satellite manoeuvred near a Finnish-operated radar satellite that supplies intelligence to Ukraine. Russia called the claim "absurd."
Outlook: A Long Road to Orbit
Rassvet's central challenge is scale. Russia has a little over 30 satellites in orbit against Starlink's roughly 10,000, and it is unclear whether its launch capacity can keep pace with its targets. Rassvet's satellites fly higher, at around 800 km, which improves Arctic coverage but adds latency. Sanctions are expected to raise costs.
For now, Moscow is pairing open admiration for its rival with a state-backed effort to build a network of its own. Whether Rassvet meets its 2027 commercial target will show how quickly that gap can close.
