Putin praises Elon Musk as Russia develops Rassvet, its own satellite internet network designed to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink. The Russian president called Musk a genius Wednesday and claimed the two were in close contact.
“Elon Musk is a genius, truly a genius,” Putin said at the Russia-Africa Summit. He praised SpaceX’s deployment of more than 5,000 satellites while acknowledging Russia was still taking its first steps.
Putin Praises Elon Musk as Russia Develops Starlink Rival
Russia’s Rassvet satellite project aims to provide internet connectivity through a network of low-Earth-orbit satellites. Putin’s comments come amid concerns about Ukraine’s reliance on Starlink and its military-focused Starshield service.
Musk recently expressed frustration with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose country has been resisting Russia’s invasion since 2022. Following the easing of U.S. sanctions on Russia, Ukrainian officials raised concerns about continued access to satellite communications.
Starshield Restrictions Raise Concerns in Ukraine
Earlier in October, Ukrainian drones experienced frequent connectivity losses for approximately 10 days. The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk ordered SpaceX to restrict Ukraine’s access. However, Reuters cited sources who said the directive originated inside the White House.
Musk accused Ukraine of violating Starlink’s terms by using the technology for offensive drone strikes. Service has since reportedly returned to normal.
In a separate post on X, Musk claimed Ukraine’s front line would collapse immediately without Starlink. He emphasized that his statement was not a threat.
