Ukraine calls on US to sanction companies building Russia's Starlink rival
Photo: Russia's Starlink analogue will pose a serious problem for Ukraine (t.me/bureau)
Ukraine is calling on the United States to hit Russian companies and other entities involved in creating the Rassvet satellite system with sanctions. Moscow considers it its own analogue of Starlink, reports Reuters.
According to Denys Sienik, deputy chief of mission at the Ukrainian embassy in Washington, Russia is currently doing everything possible to rapidly increase the Rassvet satellite constellation.
If it is not prevented, the system's launch, scheduled for 2027, will indeed take place.
Sienik also warned that if Rassvet is launched, by the end of this year the enemy will be able to use the system to guide weapons at Ukrainian targets in real time.
Against the backdrop of recent events, the Ukrainian embassy decided to provide the United States with information about companies and individuals involved in implementing the project.
"If these entities are not sanctioned, it will actually make this program possible for Russia and that will be a game-changer," the diplomat emphasized.
Russia's intention to put Rassvet into operation in 2027 was previously announced by Aleksei Shelobkov, head of the Iks Holding company, which is developing the system.
The company launched the first 16 low-Earth-orbit satellites into orbit in March. In the future, their number is planned to increase to 900 over several years.
For comparison, the Starlink constellation currently numbers more than 10,000 satellites in orbit. Starlink's operation is prohibited in Russia, and the use of the system's equipment can be punishable by fines.
