Zelensky: China provides Starlink competitor technology to Russia

Rival Starlink technology could soon be transferred by Beijing to Moscow in a bid to tip the balance of the air battle in the war, according to new warnings from Ukrainian officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, referring to the growing technical cooperation between Beijing and Moscow, warned that the Russian military is on the verge of achieving absolute superiority by using Chinese satellite equipment...

0 Posted by: Sara Bani Amrian, 24 October 1405 at 18:14

Rival Starlink technology could soon be transferred by Beijing to Moscow in a bid to tip the balance of the air battle in the war, according to new warnings from Ukrainian officials.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, referring to the growing technical cooperation between Beijing and Moscow, warned that the Russian military is on the verge of gaining absolute superiority in the skies of Ukraine by using Chinese satellite equipment. In recent months, Kiev has asked its Western allies to impose strict sanctions against this joint space program. At the same time, Ukraine is seeking to obtain unlimited use of SpaceX equipment to target missile launchers up to 200 kilometers deep in the enemy's territory.

Rasut satellite network and technical challenges of Moscow

The main project at the center of these tensions is the Rassvet satellite network, which is being developed by the Bureau 1440 company affiliated with the Russian IKS Holding. Moscow launched the first 16 satellites of this network in March and another 16 in July, bringing the total to 32. This figure is much lower than the target of the Russian national program to launch 156 satellites by the end of 2026 and 292 satellites by 2027.

Intelligence reports show that this system is struggling with several technical problems; So that Rasut-3 satellite number 4 failed to increase its orbit and fell into the earth's atmosphere in June. Oleh Ivashchenko, head of Ukraine's military intelligence, announced that the efficiency of these satellites is still very low due to the very small number of them in orbit, and their use is only carried out when passing over Ukraine.

Starlink's sudden curtailment disrupted Ukrainian drone missions

Iran claimed to disable Starlink satellite internet terminals

The role of China's supply chain in circumventing sanctions

Kyiv has not yet publicly disclosed the names of any specific Chinese companies, but there is evidence on the ground that Chinese markets are supplying key electronic components. Despite the Russian company's claim that the modules are indigenously manufactured, analysts believe the central hardware is based on off-the-shelf Chinese components or Western components smuggled through embargo circumvention networks.

Ukraine, which received 675 aircraft in 2023, 364 aircraft in 2025, and only 264 Patriot missiles in 2026, is now looking for alternative solutions. The Ukrainian company Stetman plans to build a 360-satellite system in collaboration with Denmark and launch it with SpaceX in 2027 to reduce the military's dependence on telecommunications.