Vladimir Putin Praises Elon Musk Amid Discussions on Russian Satellite Project Rassvet
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated at the Russia-Africa Summit that he is in close contact with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk regarding 'Rassvet,' Russia's planned competitor to the Starlink satellite internet service. Putin praised Musk's technical capabilities, noting the scale of his existing satellite constellation compared to Russia's nascent efforts. The comments come amid heightened geopolitical tension regarding Musk's influence over military communications in Ukraine. Following recent connectivity issues for Ukrainian drones and conflicting reports on whether SpaceX or the White House restricted Starlink access, concerns have grown regarding the stability of Ukraine's reliance on Musk's technology during the ongoing conflict.