Russia is building its own version of Starlink: what does this mean for Ukraine?
1 June 02:11
Russia is deploying its own low-Earth orbit satellite system for high-speed internet—a Starlink counterpart called “Bureau 1440.” The first 16 “Rassvet” satellites are already in orbit and operating in test mode. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing a Telegram post by electronic warfare specialist Sergei “Flash” Beskrestnov.
According to the expert, Russia fully understands the importance of high-speed data transmission via low-Earth orbit satellites, so the active development of such a system is only a matter of time.
The current status of the project is as follows: 16 “Rassvet” satellites are already in orbit, but at least 200–250 satellites will be needed for stable communication.
Plans call for the launch of 300 satellites, followed by another 700. “Flash” emphasizes that the actual timelines and figures are constantly changing.
“Flash” emphasized that until there are enough satellites in orbit to ensure stable communication, full-scale military use of “Rassvet” is impossible. If such use does begin, it will be detected through satellite traffic, intelligence data, or captured equipment.
“Flash” explains that the project currently shows no signs or evidence of military use, so no countermeasures are being taken against it.
He separately dismisses the idea of Ukrainian UAV strikes on the Russian spaceports of Plesetsk, Vostochny, and Baikonur, calling it “delusional.”
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“Bureau 1440” was originally established within “Megafon”; it is now part of “IKS Holding,” which specializes in data storage solutions and deep traffic filtering systems.
A few days before the launch, personnel changes took place within the holding company— the leadership position was taken by 29-year-old Boris Korolev, the son of FSB Deputy Director Sergei Korolev.
The development of its own satellite network is of not only commercial but also military significance for Russia. Restrictions on Russian forces’ access to Western satellite communication services have exacerbated communication problems on the front lines. Under these conditions, “Rassvet” is viewed as a critical element of infrastructure, despite its high cost and technological limitations.
The first Starlink satellites were launched in May 2019 in a single batch of 60 units. As of now, the constellation comprises over 10,000 satellites, indicating a significant technological and scale-related lag in the Russian project.
