Putin Praises Elon Musk Amid Discussions on Russia's Satellite Internet Project

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Russian President Vladimir Putin commends Elon Musk as a "true genius" in relation to discussions on Rassvet, Russia's satellite internet initiative similar to Musk's Starlink.

At the recent Russia-Africa Summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed high regard for SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, calling him "a genius, truly a genius." The praise came during discussions about Rassvet, a Russian satellite internet project designed to mirror Musk's Starlink network, which currently operates over 5,000 satellites in orbit.

Putin revealed that he and Musk maintain "close contact" regarding Rassvet, which represents Russia's initial venture into large-scale satellite internet connectivity while Musk's constellation is already well established.

This relationship draws significant attention given Musk's complex position surrounding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Musk had voiced frustrations recently with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the use of Starlink, especially following U.S. sanction adjustments impacting Russia.

Earlier in October, Ukrainian forces experienced intermittent Starlink connectivity issues, reportedly due to SpaceX orders to restrict access over concerns that Ukraine was using Starlink for offensive drone operations. Musk publicly stated on his social platform that use of Starlink for "offensive drone strikes to kill people" violated terms of service. However, Starlink service in Ukraine has since returned to normal.

Musk emphasized the tactical importance of Starlink to the Ukrainian military front lines while underscoring that any interruption would have immediate consequences. Putin's acknowledgment of Musk's technical achievements and their dialogue about Rassvet highlight a noteworthy intersection of technology, geopolitics, and satellite internet ambitions.