Musk’s Starlink has already placed more than 5,000 satellites into low‑Earth orbit, providing broadband to remote corners of the globe. The network’s reach has drawn interest from governments looking to secure independent communications.
Russia has pursued its own constellation for both civilian and military use for decades, with past projects like Glonass and the more recent, unpublicised efforts at a large‑scale broadband network. The Kremlin sees a domestic system as essential for strategic autonomy.
The comments came amid a spat between Ukraine and the United States over the use of Starshield, a military‑grade satellite network powered by SpaceX. Ukraine has reported outages this month that have hampered drone‑intercept operations and slowed logistics on the front line.
Putin delivered his praise while touring an exhibition on the sidelines of a Russia‑Africa summit, noting the need for close coordination with American partners to avoid orbital interference. The statement signals a pivot toward a self‑sufficient space infrastructure that could alter the balance of digital warfare in the region.