Putin calls Musk a 'genius'

Russian President Vladimir Putin described SpaceX CEO Elon Musk as a "genius" during the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow. He noted that the two men maintain "close contacts" regarding the development of Rassvet, a Russian satellite internet project.

Rassvet's satellite status

According to satellite tracking service Orbital Radar, Rassvet currently has 31 satellites in orbit, out of the 32 launched since March of this year. Twenty-six of these satellites are in their operational orbit, approximately 509 kilometers above Earth.

Putin's remarks on cooperation

Putin emphasized that the Rassvet project was started independently and that Russia maintains close contact with American partners, including Musk. He added that it is important to respect certain rules and discipline in orbit and that mutual understanding with Musk continues despite political differences.

Musk criticizes Ukraine's Starlink use

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk accused the Ukrainian military of violating the terms of use of Starlink after Ukraine stated that access to the service had been restored. Musk wrote on X that the use of Starlink for offensive drone strikes aimed at killing people had never been authorized and should not be.

Starshield and U.S. control

Musk stated that Starshield, SpaceX's satellite communications service for governments, was a separate system controlled by the U.S. government. He also highlighted Ukraine's dependence on Starlink, stating that it "remained essential to Ukraine's defense."

Ukraine accuses SpaceX of restrictions

Ukraine accused SpaceX and Musk of imposing restrictions that slowed the country's military satellite internet access, thereby impairing its defense capabilities. These restrictions affected Starshield, leading to a loss or degradation of drone and other mobile terminal connectivity when they exceeded a speed of about 100 miles per hour.

Zelenskyy links restrictions to air defense issues

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attributed the disruption of his country's air defense capabilities during frequent Russian air attacks to these restrictions. Musk stated that Starshield was controlled by the U.S. government, and ultimately by the president, while other information indicated that the restriction had been imposed by Musk himself.

Trump denies involvement in restrictions

U.S. President Donald Trump denied having ordered the restriction on Starlink. The White House and SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment on whether the service had been limited and where such an order originated.

Musk accuses Ukraine of violating Starlink terms

Musk later stated that Ukraine had violated the terms of use of Starlink by using a commercial civil network to conduct offensive drone strikes. Ukraine denied these facts. Shortly before that, Trump stated that the restrictions imposed by Musk on the Starlink network had been lifted.

Ukrainian military still faces connectivity issues

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense indicated that connection problems persisted and hindered military operations. This controversy occurred against the backdrop of tensions between Washington and Kyiv regarding Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure.

Ongoing conflict and recent attacks

Putin's statements, made mid-week in the late afternoon, come as fighting continues between Russia and Ukraine, with the war approaching its fifth year. The following morning, 13 people were killed and 10 injured during a Russian rocket-powered drone attack on a train station in Dnipro, eastern Ukraine, according to regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha.

Attacks on Kharkiv and drone activity

Russia also attacked Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, damaging an educational institution, wrote the city's mayor, Ihor Terekhov, on Telegram. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated it had intercepted and destroyed 1,214 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones during the night.

Potential trilateral talks

Peace talks between Putin, Zelenskyy, and Trump, organized under U.S. auspices, could take place next month. Zelenskyy stated that preparations were underway for a trilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi, which should take place by November 10.

Factors influencing talks

Moscow has not yet proposed a specific date for these talks, which will depend on several factors, including the war in Iran, stated Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin's foreign policy advisor. Ushakov noted that the current situation in the Middle East makes it difficult to organize the meeting in the near future.