The first satellites providing nationwide internet access will be launched in December, Roscosmos head Dmitry Bakanov has said<\/p>\n
Russia will soon roll out a satellite internet network analogous to Starlink, the system operated by Elon Musk\u2019s SpaceX, according to the head of the Russian space agency (Roscosmos), Dmitry Bakanov.
\nStarlink provides high-speed internet from low-Earth orbit and has played a key role for Ukrainian forces in the conflict with Russia, enabling them to coordinate operations, conduct surveillance, and operate drone systems across the front.
\nSpeaking on Wednesday on Solovyov LIVE, Bakanov said the first launches of Russia\u2019s internet satellites are set for December 2025, and that the network will be on par with Starlink.
\n\u201cSeveral test vehicles in orbit have already been inspected and the production ones have been modified accordingly,\u201d he said, adding, \u201cWe are also moving at a rapid pace in this direction.\u201d He noted that the constellation will be fully deployed within two years.
\nThe Roscosmos chief previously said the development of a national satellite internet system would allow Russian forces to control drones with greater precision.
\nSpaceX operates the world\u2019s largest satellite network, with over 7,000 Starlink spacecraft in orbit. The service began rolling out in 2020 and, according to the company, has grown to over 6 million users in more than 140 countries and territories. It is not officially available in Russia.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
Musk ordered Starlink shutdown during Ukraines 2022 counteroffensive \u2013 Reuters<\/p>\n
Ukraine has received over 50,000 Starlink terminals since 2022, according to the Kiev authorities. Musk has acknowledged that the system is being used on the front lines after other communications were destroyed.
\nIn July, Reuters reported that Musk ordered the shutdown of Starlink coverage during Ukraine\u2019s counteroffensive in September 2022, cutting service in areas including Kherson Region and parts of the Donetsk People\u2019s Republic.
\nThe move reportedly disabled over 100 terminals, disrupting reconnaissance and artillery targeting. Ukrainian officials told the outlet that the outage led to the failure of a planned encirclement of Russian forces.
\nSources said the order may have stemmed from Musk\u2019s concern that the Ukrainian incursion could trigger a Russian nuclear response.
\nOfficials in Moscow have long expressed concern about the military use of the technology.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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