Russia Expands Rassvet Satellite Network With Belarus Support

Russia is expanding its military satellite communications capabilities through Rassvet, a low-Earth-orbit network developed by Bureau 1440 with assistance from Belarus. The project, which gained momentum in 2026 after Russian forces lost access to Starlink, could extend remote drone operations across Ukraine and create additional security concerns for Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Belarus is contributing ground infrastructure through satellite operator Belintersat. A control facility under development there is intended to support the network's geographical coverage, potentially extending its military applications beyond Russian territory.

According to reporting by UNITED24 Media, Ukrainian military personnel have documented Rassvet terminals installed on Molniya drones. These relatively inexpensive fixed-wing attack aircraft can travel dozens of kilometers and could use satellite connections to receive commands over greater distances.

The network has progressed beyond its initial testing phase. Russia launched its first six experimental satellites between 2023 and 2024. In March and July 2026, it subsequently launched two groups of 16 production satellites, according to USA Today.

Not all deployed satellites have reached their designated orbital positions or become operational. Nevertheless, Russian officials have outlined plans to expand the constellation, while the current network remains substantially smaller than SpaceX's Starlink.

Russia has announced plans for approximately 300 satellites by 2028. Separately, the Kremlin's longer-term targets, reported by UNITED24 Media, include 250 satellites by 2027, 730 by 2030 and more than 900 by 2035.

Ukrainian military intelligence, as reported by defense publication Janes and cited by USA Today, observed Russian forces using initial Rassvet satellites for communications over Ukrainian territory for several hours by late July 2026.

Potential military applications include secure data transmission and communications with reconnaissance and strike drones. However, there is no publicly verified evidence that Rassvet controlled the drone responsible for the deadly railway station strike in Dnipro described by USA Today.

The distinction between existing capabilities and future possibilities remains important. Satellite connectivity could allow operators to receive information from drones and issue instructions over longer distances, although operational coverage, aircraft capabilities and security defenses would still determine whether particular missions were feasible.

Major General Illia Pavlenko, a former deputy chief of Ukrainian military intelligence, warned in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine about the potential geographical reach of the system.

Pavlenko described a possible scenario involving a drone launched from a civilian vessel in the English Channel or a rented trailer somewhere in Europe before being directed toward London or Paris using Russian satellite communications. He presented this as a potential security threat, not evidence of an established attack plan.

Russia's development program also raises concerns about the industrial supply chain supporting the constellation. An investigation published through Ukraine's War&Sanctions database identified 49 Russian and Belarusian organizations associated with Rassvet.

The organizations include satellite manufacturers, electronics suppliers, engineering companies, scientific institutions, financial organizations and entities connected to Russia's space industry. Identified organizations include Bureau 1440, its parent technology group ICS Holding, Roscosmos and Rocket and Space Centre Progress.

Russia is also pursuing measures against competing satellite infrastructure. UNITED24 Media reported damage to Starlink-related infrastructure in Poland, Bulgaria and Lithuania during three incidents over the preceding month.

In October 2026, Axios reported that a Russian satellite approached the American ICEYE-X36 satellite to within several dozen meters. The incident raised concerns about possible attempts to interfere with satellite equipment, although the precise purpose of the maneuver was not established.

On October 29, Russian Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev described government control and internet traffic filtering as intended features of the Rassvet network, according to USA Today.

European governments are examining potential responses. Germany is assessing ground-based technologies capable of disrupting satellite communications and navigation signals, while sanctions remain another instrument available to restrict the project's development.

Belintersat is already subject to sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union and other major jurisdictions. However, UNITED24 Media reported that Bureau 1440 has faced US sanctions without equivalent restrictions from the European Union.

Ukraine is also seeking international action through the International Telecommunication Union. Kyiv has objected to Russia including Ukrainian territory in the declared coverage areas of its Rassvet-1 and Rassvet-3 systems, citing concerns about territorial coverage and possible interference with Ukrainian communications.

Ukrainian officials are asking that the country's territory be removed from those declared service areas and encouraging other affected countries to submit similar objections. The network remains under development, with its expansion dependent on satellite deployment, ground infrastructure and the availability of specialized industrial components.