Ukrainian intelligence says Russia now uses its Rassvet satellite network in the war

Ukraine's Defence Intelligence (HUR) has officially confirmed for the first time that Russia has started using its new Rassvet satellite system for military operations and communications in Ukraine.

Rassvet was built as an alternative to the US Starlink network and joins the communications of Russia's armed forces into one network. It can also link long-range drones, so they can receive new information during a mission and be sent to other targets, which could make Russian strikes more accurate.

Russia launched 32 Rassvet satellites in 2026, 16 in March and 16 in July, against about 10,000 in Starlink. The project is run by the Russian company Bureau 1440. For now the system can connect over Ukraine for only a few hours a day, and more than 900 satellites are expected by 2035.

Ukrainian security expert Nikolay Zintsev said there are early signs that Rassvet is being used to control fast jet-powered drones.