Ukraine Targets Russian Space Infrastructure as Rassvet Satellite Constellation Struggles to Replace Starlink

All 16 satellites in Rassvet's second launch batch, sent up on July 19, failed to reach their planned 550-km orbit and remained stuck at 300-400 km as of August 31, according to satellite tracker N2YO data cited by Ukrainska Pravda 1; two are expected to re-enter the atmosphere soon 1. ISW assessed that Russia currently operates roughly 12 functioning satellites from the March batch, providing up to 90 minutes of daily connectivity, and estimated Moscow needs 200-300 operational satellites for round-the-clock coverage 12. Ukrainian forces have struck Rassvet-linked infrastructure over recent months, hitting the Dubna and Vladimir space communications centers in June, the RKC Progress rocket plant in Samara on August 15 with Flamingo cruise missiles, and attempting a drone strike on the Plesetsk Cosmodrome launch site on August 23 345. Zelensky said the Samara strike targeted Russia's capacity to wage war 5, while Ukrainian military intelligence reported Russia plans to expand the constellation to 292 satellites by 2027 and 924 by 2035 5.