Putin praises Musk as Russia builds Rassvet satellites amid Starlink blackout

Vladimir Putin has hailed Elon Musk as a “real genius” while revealing that Russia is in close contact with the SpaceX boss to prevent satellite collisions in orbit. Speaking at the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, the Russian president admitted that his nation is only taking “the first steps” with its own Rassvet constellation, according to the BBC ^[2].

This diplomatic flattery comes just days after Musk’s Starshield military network suffered a sudden blackout, hampering Ukraine’s drone attacks and air defences. The Guardian reported ^[1] that Musk initially denied ordering the throttling before later admitting he had closed a loophole where civilian Starlink terminals were used by the military. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed last week that Starlink operations had been restored, stating speeds were “now where they need to be”.

Putin’s comments highlight the tension between Moscow’s desire for independent communications and its reliance on American technology. While SpaceX has launched roughly 13,000 satellites, Russia currently has only a couple of dozen Rassvet satellites in orbit, according to online trackers cited by the BBC ^[2]. The Russian Embassy in South Africa described Rassvet as “Russia’s Starlink alternative”, noting it marks only the country’s first steps in the field.

Despite the political friction, Putin stressed the importance of “orbital discipline” to ensure the two systems do not interfere with each other. “We are in close contact with our American partners – including Mr Musk,” Putin said, as reported by The Guardian ^[1]. This interaction occurs as US President Donald Trump moves to buy Russian diesel to lower gas prices, a deal that has seen sanctions waived and one American citizen released from custody.

Meanwhile, Ukraine faces what is expected to be its most difficult winter yet. Russia has launched more than 100 ballistic missiles at Kyiv since mid-October, targeting power plants to cause a humanitarian crisis, according to Zelenskyy ^[1]. In response, the UK has announced £10bn in extra financing for Ukraine, with £500m earmarked for immediate air defence systems. The Dutch government has also pledged €500m in military support and €1.2bn for non-military aid.

As the war approaches its fifth year, diplomatic efforts continue to simmer. Zelenskyy expressed hope that trilateral peace talks involving Ukraine, Russia, and the US could take place in Abu Dhabi between 6 and 10 November, shortly after the US midterm elections. He stated he is waiting for the American side to be “ready with all the answers” following the vote ^[1].