In brief

• Ukraine's military intelligence says Russia already uses its Rassvet satellite network, presented as a Starlink alternative, for military links over Ukraine.
• The network does not yet provide continuous coverage and works only when satellites pass over given areas.
• Intelligence assesses it could let Russian drones receive updated routes mid-flight and become harder to jam.

What the network could allow

Ukraine's military intelligence directorate, GUR, says Russia is already using Rassvet, a new satellite communications network that Moscow presents as its own alternative to Starlink, for military links over Ukrainian territory («Связь доступна периодически». Россия уже использует собственную версию Starlink для нанесения ударов по территории Украины — ГУР Минобороны – NV). The directorate's spokesman, Andrii Yusov, said the network cannot yet cover Ukraine continuously. Connection is available only intermittently, when satellites pass over particular areas.

GUR assesses that Rassvet could provide two-way data exchange between Russian operators and their drones over Ukraine. That would let reconnaissance drones send information in near real time, and let operators of strike drones change their routes while in flight rather than relying on pre-programmed paths.

According to the same assessment, a drone with a live link could adjust its flight if a target moves, or try to avoid air defence fire. Yusov said that over the longer term this could make attack and reconnaissance drones more effective and harder to detect for electronic warfare and electronic intelligence systems.

Why it matters

Moscow's aim, according to Ukrainian intelligence, is to improve the accuracy of drone strikes and make them less vulnerable to jamming. Reducing dependence on fixed routes would be the main operational change if the network reaches continuous coverage.

The claims come from Ukrainian military intelligence and have not been independently verified in this report. Russia has not been quoted here responding to them.