Putin says Russia is in close contact with Musk over its Starlink rival

Vladimir Putin has called Elon Musk “a real genius” and said Russia is in close contact with him over satellites in orbit. Putin spoke on Wednesday at the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, during a presentation on Rassvet, Russia’s answer to Starlink.

The remarks follow weeks of disruption to Starlink over Ukraine. Kyiv’s military lost speed on the service earlier this month, which it said hurt its ability to stop Russian drones.

“He’s a genius, a real genius. We are in close contact with our American partners, including Mr Musk,” Putin said, according to a BBC translation by Kali Hays and Laura Gozzi.

Putin said the contact was about keeping Rassvet and Starlink satellites from getting in each other’s way in orbit.

“We and our American partners value this mutually, and despite all the political questions, we are working hard,” he said.

31 satellites against thousands

Digital development minister Maksut Shadayev told Putin that Russia had launched more than 30 Rassvet satellites, The Telegraph reported. He put Musk’s fleet at more than 5,000. Putin called Russia’s effort a “first step”.

Satellite trackers put the gap wider. Rassvet, built by the Russian private company Bureau 1440, has 31 satellites in orbit out of 32 launched since March, according to tracker Orbital Radar, Elsa Ohlen reported for CNBC. Starlink has more than 11,000 satellites in orbit, CNBC reported.

Russia has been building Rassvet for years and has kept moving its deadlines. This month, Zelensky asked Trump to block the project with sanctions, the FT reported.

The Ukraine slowdown

Ukraine relies on Starlink and Starshield, the military version SpaceX sells to governments. Earlier this month, drones and other fast-moving terminals lost connection above about 160 km/h, Ukrainian officials said. Zelensky blamed the cap for disrupting air defence.

Who ordered it is still disputed. Musk has said the US government controls Starshield, and Trump has denied ordering the restriction, CNBC reported. Musk also accused Ukraine of breaking Starlink’s terms by using it for offensive drone strikes, which Ukraine denies. Ukraine said speeds were back to normal last weekend.

In Washington, Democratic senator Chris Coons of Delaware reacted on X.

“One more thing to add to the list of questions for Musk when I subpoena him,” Coons wrote.