Ukraine has appealed to the United States to impose sanctions against a number of Russian companies and individuals involved in the development of the Rassvet satellite network, the Russian counterpart to SpaceX's Starlink system.
Ukraine has appealed to the United States to impose sanctions against a number of Russian companies and individuals involved in the development of the Rassvet satellite network, the Russian counterpart to SpaceX's Starlink system.
This was stated by the charge d'affaires of Ukraine in the United States, Denis Senik, Reuters reports .
According to the diplomat, Russia is rapidly expanding the Rassvet project and plans to launch it fully. This poses a serious threat to Ukraine's security.
"If they launch Rassvet by the end of 2026, it will allow them to strike Ukrainian targets in real time right on our territory. If sanctions are not imposed against these structures, this will actually make the implementation of the program possible for Russia, which will radically change the situation on the battlefield," Senik emphasized.
The Ukrainian side is preparing a detailed list of companies and individuals involved in the creation of the satellite network for the US government and Congress.
The project is being developed by the Russian holding company ICS Holding. In March, the company launched the first 16 low-orbit satellites , and plans to launch up to 900 satellites into orbit over the next few years.
Currently, Western countries are trying to limit Russia's space infrastructure, but there are still gaps in the sanctions regime, which Kyiv is calling on Washington to close as soon as possible.
Denis Senik also stressed Ukraine's critical need for air defense before the winter. According to him, the country urgently needs about 300 additional interceptor missiles for the Patriot systems, as the Russian Federation produces more than 100 ballistic missiles per month.
In addition, Ukraine continues to insist on expanding the coverage of the Starlink satellite internet over Russian territory. This would allow the Ukrainian military to more effectively detect and destroy Russian ballistic missile launchers directly at their bases.
The embassy representative also drew attention to Washington's lack of public reaction to systematic Russian attacks on the facilities of American companies in Ukraine.
Among the affected facilities are the offices and facilities of Boeing, Flex, Bunge, Coca-Cola, and a logistics center serving McDonald's.
“This is not an accident. Russia clearly understands what it is doing when it attacks ordinary businesses operating in Ukraine with the support of American investments and serving civilian needs,” concluded Senik, calling on partners to strengthen the protection of both Ukrainians and international businesses.
