Zelensky urges Trump to sanction Russian-Chinese satellite network

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on Russian and Chinese companies involved in developing 'Rassvet', a low-Earth orbit satellite network. Zelensky warned that the network, being developed by the Russian firm Bureau 1440 with Chinese assistance, could become operational by late this year or early next year.

He noted that while Rassvet may not match the sophistication of Elon Musk’s Starlink, it could significantly enhance the precision of Russian aerial strikes and provide a reliable alternative to local Wi-Fi bridges for transmitting drone video feeds to command centers. The technology could potentially support land, sea, and strike drones, aiding Russian military operations.

Additionally, Zelensky requested that the Trump administration authorize the Ukrainian military to use Starlink-equipped drones to strike targets up to 200 kilometers deep inside Russian territory. This move aims to destroy missile launchers and other assets used in attacks against Ukraine.