Vladimir Putin said on October 28, 2026 that Russia was discussing low-Earth-orbit satellite constellations with Elon Musk, although no formal agreement has been verified. Russia is developing the Rassvet project in this area, led by Bureau 1440 under the supervision of Roscosmos and backed in part by VTB Bank. Only 30 to 40 Rassvet satellites were in orbit as of mid-to-late October 2026, with a target of 292 operational satellites by 2027 and more than 900 by 2035. Operating at an altitude of roughly 800 kilometers, the network includes military drone-control and missile-targeting capabilities. Ukrainian military intelligence has identified 49 Russian and Belarusian companies involved in the project, 23 of which remain unsanctioned.
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