Russia deployed “Rassvet” over Ukraine: drones could become more resistant to electronic warfare

Russia is already using its own satellite system, Rassvet, for military communications over Ukraine. Reuters reports this, citing the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence (HUR). However, intelligence officials emphasize that the current constellation is not sufficient for continuous coverage: communications are available only when satellites pass over the relevant areas.

According to HUR, the network can enable two-way data transmission between Russian drones over Ukraine and their operators. This creates opportunities for:

• reconnaissance drones to transmit collected information in real time;
• strike drone operators to change their routes while the drones are in flight.

Such communications could allow drones to respond to changing targets and evade Ukrainian air defenses. They could also improve strike accuracy and make drones less vulnerable to Ukrainian electronic warfare systems.

HUR spokesperson Andrii Yusov said that, in the future, use of this system could make Russian strike and reconnaissance UAVs more effective, while making them harder to detect and jam with electronic warfare systems.

Kyiv-based security expert Mykola Zentsev reported signs that Rassvet is already affecting the accuracy of Russian jet-powered drones. In his assessment, Russian forces have at least two periods of high-quality satellite communications each day, each lasting more than an hour.

Ukrainian military intelligence reports that 32 satellites belonging to the system have been launched into orbit since the beginning of 2026. They were launched in two batches — in March and July. Moscow plans to continue building up the constellation through the end of 2026, expanding its coverage and gradually moving toward a full-fledged low-Earth-orbit satellite communications network.

Rassvet is seen as Russia’s answer to Starlink, the network operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. However, it is still far smaller in scale than the American system, which has more than 10,000 satellites.

Ukrainian forces use Starshield, the military version of SpaceX’s satellite system. It provides important communications and drone-control capabilities. Russian forces previously used illegally acquired Starlink terminals in Ukraine, but after Kyiv appealed to the company, SpaceX disconnected them.

Amid the development of Russia’s network, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy imposed sanctions last week on ten companies involved in its creation. Among them is Bureau 1440, which coordinates the state project. The company has said it intends to build a constellation of more than 900 satellites by 2035.

Ukraine is also urging the United States to impose additional sanctions on companies involved in developing Russia’s satellite system. According to Ukrainian officials, Chinese components are among those used to build Rassvet.

We also previously reported:

• Starlink alternative for the military: Obria needs at least 100 satellites
• Relatives’ and acquaintances’ data used for Starlink on Russia’s behalf: 18-year-old faces life in prison
• Using someone else’s data for Starlink: two Mykolaiv residents registered terminals for the Russian army
• Ukraine is creating its own Starlink alternative — Zelenskyy
• A new sky for attacks: Russia is creating its own Starlink to control drones