Russia is accelerating deployment of a Starlink-style satellite internet network and plans to have nearly 300 satellites in orbit by 2027 in what Kyiv called a rapid build-up.
Ukraine says SpaceX's Starlink has given it a major advantage in drone operations and battlefield communications, and Russian forces had been using grey-market Starlink terminals in the field until Kyiv lobbied SpaceX to disable them earlier this year.
"Once Russia deploys a full satellite constellation, the system will operate like Starlink," said Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine's GUR military intelligence.
Skibitskyi said Russia currently has 16 satellites in its Rassvet system and that the network can only operate intermittently when a satellite passes over Ukrainian territory, but Moscow plans to expand to 292 satellites by 2027 and 924 by 2035.
He added Russia had met annual production targets for Zircon and Oniks missiles in the first seven months of the year and was exceeding its 2026 missile production goals by 10% to 20%, estimating an Iskander-M stockpile of around 130 with 65 new ones made in July.
The warning comes amid continued cross-border strikes and fighting, including Kyiv's reported purchase of long-range ATACMS munitions .., Russian claims of capturing two villages in Donetsk .., and strikes in Tatarstan that Moscow said killed 13 at an oil refinery .. and that the Uzbek consulate said killed seven of its citizens ...
Skibitskyi said discussions are already underway on how to counter the emerging Rassvet capability.
