World · Europe · 2 hrs ago
Putin praises Musk and says Russia is in contact over satellite technology
At a Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, Vladimir Putin praised Elon Musk as a “real genius” and said they were in close contact.
Musk’s SpaceX operates Starlink, a satellite internet service, while Russia is building Rassvet as its own alternative.
Putin said the countries need to coordinate so their satellites do not interfere with each other in orbit.
Starlink has been important to Ukraine’s military as it defends against Russian forces.
A recent Starlink restriction disrupted Ukrainian military operations, including drone activity and some air defences.
Service in Ukraine was later restored, but the dispute has raised questions about Musk’s influence over a service used in the war.
Vladimir Putin praised Elon Musk as Russia develops the Rassvet satellite network to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink.
Putin said Russia was taking its first steps and that Moscow was in close contact with American partners, including Musk, about coordination in orbit.
The remarks came at the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, where Russia’s communications minister presented satellites used in the Rassvet project.
Starlink service was temporarily restricted in Ukraine in October, disrupting some Ukrainian military operations, and was later restored.
- Who
- Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Elon Musk and discussed Russia’s satellite project.
- What
- Russia is developing Rassvet, a satellite communications network intended to compete with Starlink.
- When
- Putin made the remarks on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
- Where
- At the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow.
- Why
- Russia is developing its own satellite network as an alternative to Starlink and seeking coordination in orbit.
U.S. diplomats
Russia
Satellite maneuver
U.S. diplomats
U.S. diplomats alleged Russia acted “deliberately recklessly” when a Russian military satellite maneuvered near a radar satellite supplying intelligence to Ukraine.
Russia
Russia dismissed the claim as “absurd.
Russia’s use of Starlink inside Ukraine was restricted.
Starlink’s military service was restricted in Ukraine, disrupting some military operations.
Ukraine’s president said Starlink and Starshield operations had been restored.
Putin praised Musk at the Russia-Africa summit as Russia develops the Rassvet constellation.
- Russian satellite network
- Rassvet
- Starlink satellite count cited by Putin
- More than 5,000
- Estimated active SpaceX satellites
- About 10,000
- Rassvet working satellites
- About 26
- Summit location
- Moscow
3 sources
What people are saying
Elon Musk is a genius, a true genius
We’re only taking our first steps
We are in close contact with our American partners – including Mr Musk – because it is very important, in orbit, not to get in each other’s way and to maintain a certain level of discipline and order
Using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it be