Ukraine's defence intelligence says Russian forces used Rassvet satellites for “several hours”
Image of workers from Bureau 1440 preparing satellites from Rassvet-2 for launch. (Bureau 1440 )
Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU, also known as HUR) has told Janes it recorded Russian forces using the first group of Rassvet satellites for satellite communication (satcom) over Ukraine for “several hours” by the end of July 2026.
“These capabilities could be potentially used for real-time data transmissions and for operating reconnaissance and strike UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles],” a senior official from DIU told Janes on 4 September. The deployment of Russia's Rassvet satellite constellation will result in a “significant enhancement of Russia's space-based capabilities”, the official added.
Russia launched a total of 32 satellites for its Rassvet-3 constellation into low Earth orbit (LEO) as of August 2026, according to the official. At least six experimental Rassvet-1 and Rassvet-2 satellites were launched, bringing the total number to 38. “By the end of 2026, Russia plans to further expand the constellation with seven launches,” the official added.
The first 16 satellites of Rassvet, produced by Russian company Bureau 1440, were launched on 23 March 2026, according to a 24 March press release from Bureau 1440. The DIU official confirmed this, adding that Moscow might not be able to “access components, technologies, and equipment to further deployments” of the Rassvet constellation.
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