Russia is developing its own Starlink-style satellite internet network faster than previously expected and plans to deploy nearly 300 satellites by 2027, according to a senior Ukrainian military intelligence official.
Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence service, said Russia currently has 16 satellites operating as part of its Rassvet system.
“They have already begun launching it much faster than originally planned,” Skibitskyi said in an interview with Ukrainian outlet RBC-Ukraine.
According to Skibitskyi, the system can currently operate only intermittently when one of its satellites passes over Ukrainian territory. Russia’s plans reportedly call for a constellation of 292 satellites by 2027 and 924 by 2035.
“Once Russia deploys a full satellite constellation, the system will operate like Starlink,” Skibitskyi said, adding that discussions are already underway in Ukraine on how to counter the network.
SpaceX’s Starlink system has provided Ukraine with important battlefield communications and support for drone operations. Starlink is available in Ukraine but does not officially operate in Russia.
Russian forces had previously used grey-market Starlink terminals in Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials. Kyiv successfully lobbied SpaceX to disable those terminals earlier this year, a move Ukraine said contributed to changes on the battlefield.
Russia expands missile production
Skibitskyi also said Russia has increased production of several types of missiles as Moscow continues its long-range attacks on Ukraine.
He said Russia had already reached its annual production targets for Zircon and Oniks missiles during the first seven months of the year and was exceeding its 2026 missile production goals by between 10% and 20%.
Ukraine’s developing ballistic missile industry and drone production facilities have also become priority targets in Russia’s missile campaign, according to Skibitskyi.
He estimated that Russia had around 130 Iskander-M ballistic missiles in stock, with approximately 65 new missiles produced in July.
