Dmitry Medvedev has warned that any move to block Russia’s Rassvet satellite network could trigger a full-scale space war, with Starlink satellites potentially caught in the fallout. The warning came as Russia pushes Rassvet as a domestic low-Earth-orbit alternative to Starlink, while Ukraine seeks sanctions against firms involved in the programme.
Medvedev tied his comments to reports that Volodymyr Zelenskyy had asked Donald Trump to sanction Russian and Chinese companies linked to Rassvet development. He portrayed any attempt to disrupt the system as destruction of Russian space infrastructure and suggested US assets could be exposed in a wider confrontation.
Rassvet has been presented by Moscow as a strategic communications constellation for military and civilian use, with launches reported in March and July this year. The programme is expected to move towards commercial service in 2027, underscoring how satellite internet is becoming part of the wider technology and security contest surrounding the Ukraine war.