Putin calls Elon Musk "an industrial genius" and discusses satellite networks

Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of an exhibition at the Russia–Africa summit praised the role of Elon Musk in modern space communications and said Moscow remains in contact with the billionaire over satellite networks. Putin described Musk as "an industrial genius" and highlighted the scale of satellites currently in orbit.

Putin told attendees: "Elon Musk is 'an industrial genius'. There are more than 5,000 satellites in orbit. We are in close contact with our American partners, including Mr. Musk."

Comparison with Russia's own project

The president compared SpaceX's Starlink constellation with Russia's developing system, Rasvet, saying that Russia's effort is still at an early stage and that the country must increase the number of satellites in orbit to match the reach of existing commercial networks.

Speaking about operations in low Earth orbit, Putin said: "It is very important that we do not interfere with each other in orbit and that we maintain a certain level of discipline and order." He stressed that launches and the functioning of large constellations require rules and coordination.

On Rasvet's rollout, Putin acknowledged the project is nascent but defended its quality and the step taken to build it domestically. He said: "This is only our first step. We are proud that we started this work on our own. It is important that that step was taken. Quality exists. Now it is important to move from quality to quantity." According to his remarks, about 30 Rasvet satellites are currently in orbit.

Starlink operates thousands of satellites and provides high-speed internet across wide areas. Its services and their role in the war in Ukraine have been in focus since restrictions on the military communications service Starshield affected certain Ukrainian drone and air-defence operations. Musk has previously said he took measures to prevent the civilian version of Starlink from being used for military purposes without authorization.

Russia is working to build domestic satellite infrastructure to reduce dependence on foreign systems, but with roughly three dozen Rasvet satellites so far, the network remains small compared with SpaceX's constellation. Observers note that Putin's public praise of Musk could also be aimed at cultivating ties with a figure whose control over satellite communications gives him outsized influence in current military and diplomatic contexts.

Photo: Printskrin