Information Warfare — 2026-10-29

Ukraine Identifies 49 Firms Behind Russia's Starlink Alternative With 23 Facing No Allied Sanctions

BLUFHUR's published target list hands coalition governments an actionable sanctions gap to close before Rassvet reaches the 292-satellite threshold needed for Iskander-M integration.

Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) said on October 28 that 49 Russian and Belarusian companies and institutions are involved in building Rassvet, Russia's low-orbit satellite communications system, and published the list on its War&Sanctions portal 1234. Of the 49, 23, including Roscosmos, are not sanctioned by any country in the sanctions coalition, HUR said 234. Per HUR, Bureau 1440, part of the IKS Holding group, leads the project, Roscosmos head Dmitry Bakanov oversees it, and VTB Bank is an investor 23. HUR said Russia plans to fit Iskander-M command vehicles with terminals once 292 satellites are in orbit 14. Euromaidan Press, citing a HUR official speaking to Janes, reported 32 satellites launched by August 1, while Kyiv Independent reported two launch batches, on March 23 and July 20, per Bureau 1440 2.

Analysis
Rassvet is a military program first, and the HUR list hands sanctioning governments a ready target set, including Roscosmos and 22 other firms no coalition member has sanctioned. Allied listings, bank compliance screening and component export controls would have to move before expansion toward 292 satellites, when Iskander-M command vehicles are to receive terminals. Launch figures conflict: one HUR official put 32 satellites in orbit by August, while Bureau 1440 cited two batches, March 23 and July 20, leaving constellation size and working-altitude count unresolved. Confidence is moderate, because four outlets relay a single HUR publication and nothing independently verifies company roles or sanctions status. HUR may instead be publishing chiefly to press allied capitals and hold Western attention on Russian space-sector exposure, which would make the military-use and Iskander-M claims advocacy rather than established fact.

4 sources

Russia is building Starlink no foreign company can switch off - Euromaidan Press
Nearly 50 companies involved in producing Russia's Starlink alternative, 23 not under international sanctions, HUR says - Kyiv Independent
Ukraine's intelligence names nearly 50 companies involved in developing Russia's Starlink rival - Ukrainska Pravda
Defense Intelligence of Ukraine Exposes Network of Companies Developing Russia's Rassvet Satellite Communications System - Militarnyi