Russia Tests 31-Satellite Network While Putin Calls Musk a Genius

Elon Musk has more than 5,000 satellites in orbit, a figure Russian President Vladimir Putin cited while describing the SpaceX CEO as a genius.

Putin made the comparison during a speech at the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow on Wednesday. He spoke about Rassvet, a low Earth orbit constellation being built by the private aerospace firm Bureau 1440. The Russian network currently has 31 satellites in orbit, according to Orbital Radar. Thirty-two have launched since March 2026, with twenty-six functioning in a working orbit at roughly 509 kilometers.

“We are proud that we have begun doing this and that we have started doing it independently,” Putin said. He noted that Russia is in close contact with U.S. partners, specifically mentioning Musk. The president said the two leaders continue to work closely despite ongoing political issues.

Starlink, owned by SpaceX, operates a network of over 11,000 satellites. The system provides high-speed internet to 174 countries. SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Putin’s remarks.

The satellite network gained attention earlier in October. Ukraine accused SpaceX of imposing restrictions that slowed military satellite internet access. Ukrainian officials said the limitations affected Starshield, the government communications service. Drones and moving terminals lost or degraded connectivity above roughly 100 miles per hour. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blamed these restrictions for disrupting air defense capabilities during Russian air attacks.

Musk stated that Starshield is controlled by the U.S. government and the president. Other reports attributed the restriction directly to Musk. U.S. President Donald Trump denied ordering the limit. The White House and SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment on the source of the order. Musk later argued that Ukraine breached service terms by using a civilian network for offensive drone strikes. Ukraine denied the claim.

Putin’s comments came as the war between Russia and Ukraine approaches its fifth year. On early Thursday, a Russian jet-powered drone attack killed 13 people and injured 10 at a railway station in Dnipro, according to regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha. Russia also struck Kharkiv, damaging an educational institution, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov. The Russian Ministry of Defense said it intercepted and destroyed 1,214 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones overnight.