Russian President Vladimir Putin is moving forward with a new satellite internet project while maintaining a connection with Elon Musk, CNBC reports. The Russian leader spoke about the development of the Rassvet constellation, a system designed to provide internet access from low Earth orbit that aims to compete with current providers. Putin highlighted his admiration for the SpaceX CEO during the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow on Wednesday. “Elon Musk is a genius, truly a genius,” Putin said. He noted that Musk has already placed over 5,000 satellites into orbit. Russia is currently taking its first steps in this area with the Rassvet project, which is being constructed by the private aerospace company Bureau 1440. According to data from Orbital Radar, the project has 31 satellites in orbit after launching 32 since March of this year. Most of these, specifically 26 of them, are currently in their working orbit at roughly 509 kilometers. The Russian president revealed that the two sides are staying in communication regarding satellite operations “We are in close contact with our U.S. partners, including Mr Musk,” Putin stated. He mentioned that maintaining order and avoiding interference in space is a priority for both sides. “In orbit, it is very important not to interfere with one another and to adhere to certain rules, discipline, and order. Both we and our U.S. partners value this mutual understanding. Together with Mr. Musk, despite all the political issues, we continue to work closely.” Putin: Russia in ‘close contact’ with ‘genius’ Musk over satellite networkshttps://t.co/3qr2nkHpIe— The Hill (@thehill) October 29, 2026 This development comes as the Starlink network operates more than 11,000 satellites to provide internet access to 174 countries. The service has seen recent controversy involving Ukraine, where officials alleged that SpaceX limited satellite connectivity for military use. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed these restrictions hindered air defense capabilities during Russian attacks. Musk responded by stating that Ukraine breached terms of service by using a commercial network for offensive drone strikes, a claim Ukraine denied. Musk also noted that the Starshield service is managed by the U.S. government. President Donald Trump has denied ordering any restrictions on the service. The situation remains complex as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues. On Thursday morning, a Russian drone attack on a railway station in Dnipro left 13 people dead and 10 injured, according to regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha. In Kharkiv, an educational institution was damaged during an attack, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov on Telegram. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that it intercepted 1,214 Ukrainian drones overnight. Despite the ongoing fighting, there is talk of potential peace discussions. Zelenskyy mentioned on Wednesday that work is underway for a trilateral meeting involving himself, Putin, and President Donald Trump in Abu Dhabi. This meeting could happen by November 10. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, however, indicated that Moscow has not settled on a date. He noted that the timing depends on several factors, including the situation on the battlefield and the ongoing war in the Middle East. “It will also depend on the situation on the battlefield and the situation in general. You can see the situation now in the Middle East. It just doesn’t allow us to hold it in the near future. That’s my assumption,” Ushakov said. SpaceX did not provide a comment when asked about the situation.