Russian President Vladimir Putin called Elon Musk a “real genius” on October 28, 2026, while discussing Russia’s efforts to build its own satellite internet network.
During a presentation in Moscow, Russian Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev said Russia had launched more than 30 satellites for its Rassvet network, which aims to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink.
Putin said Russia was in “close contact” with American partners, including Musk, to prevent satellites from interfering with one another in orbit.
The gap between the two networks remains large. Reuters reported that Starlink had nearly 10,000 satellites, according to independent tracking, compared with Russia’s early-stage network.
Starlink has also played an important role in Ukraine’s military communications and drone operations, making satellite internet strategically important in the war. #Russia
