Putin calls Musk a 'real genius', says Russia in contact over Starlink rival

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, 28 October 2026 called Elon Musk "a real genius" and praised him for building the Starlink satellite internet network, while presenting Russia's own rival system, Rassvet. Putin said Russia is in close contact with Musk, which reports describe as coordination to keep Rassvet and Starlink satellites from getting in each other's way in orbit rather than any business deal. The remarks came days after Musk said SpaceX had throttled Starlink service in Ukraine.

Satellite internet has become a strategic tool, not just a consumer service. Constellations of hundreds or thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit, a band a few hundred kilometres above the ground, can deliver internet almost anywhere, including war zones and remote borders. Starlink's role in Ukraine since Russia's invasion has shown how much military communications can come to depend on a single private network, and how much power its owner then holds. Musk's recent statement that SpaceX had throttled Starlink service in Ukraine underlined that point again.

Against that background, Russia's president praising Musk while showing off a Russian alternative sends two messages. One is that Moscow wants its own independent network so that it is never reliant on an American company. The other is that Russia sees value in keeping a working channel with Musk, who is both a contractor to the US government and one of the most influential private figures in space.

The gap between the two systems is large. Rassvet has about 31 satellites in orbit after two launches, while Starlink's fleet runs into the thousands. Russian reports have also acknowledged that launches are behind the pace once planned. For now, Rassvet is a project more than a competitor.

For India, the episode is a reminder of why governments care who controls satellite internet. Countries that let foreign constellations serve their citizens must weigh access and speed against security and control, a debate that applies to India's own regulation of satellite broadband.

Short-term: The remarks add to questions about Musk's relations with governments on both sides of the Ukraine war, especially after the Starlink slowdown in Ukraine.

Long-term: If Russia reaches its target of hundreds of satellites, low Earth orbit will become more crowded and the need for coordination between rival operators, which Putin described, will grow. Separate national networks could also split the global satellite internet market along political lines.

Who is affected: Ukraine's military and civilians who rely on Starlink, Russian users and businesses, satellite operators sharing crowded orbits, and governments, including India's, deciding how to regulate satellite broadband.

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