Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is communicating closely with Elon Musk over Russia's satellite internet business Rasvet. Russia is pursuing its own satellite communications network to counter SpaceX's Starlink, and disclosure of contacts between Musk and Putin has drawn attention.

On Oct. 29, local time, IT outlet TechCrunch reported that Putin, speaking at a Russia-Africa summit, described Musk as a “true genius” and referred to SpaceX’s satellite communications business.

Putin said, “Elon Musk is a genius. A true genius.” He added, “He has already put more than 5,000 satellites into orbit, and we are now taking our first steps.” Putin then said he is in close contact with Musk over Rasvet, Russia’s satellite internet project.

Rasvet is a satellite internet service Russia is pursuing to respond to Starlink. Unlike SpaceX, which has built a large low-Earth-orbit satellite network to provide global service, Russia remains at an early stage. Putin’s remarks publicly suggest that Russia is also in contact with Musk as it builds its own satellite communications network.

The remarks are drawing attention because of Starlink’s role in the war in Ukraine. The Ukrainian military relies heavily on Starlink for battlefield communications and drone operations. That has also raised concerns that changes in a satellite internet provider’s policies or access could affect the course of the war.

Earlier this month, Ukrainian drones frequently lost communications links for about 10 days. The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk instructed SpaceX to restrict Ukraine’s access to Starlink. Other reports said the instruction came from the White House. Reports differ on who made the decision to restrict access, but disruptions on the ground in Ukraine at the time remain at the center of the controversy.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Musk claimed Ukraine violated Starlink’s terms of service. He said Starlink technology was used for “attack drone strikes to kill people.” The issue of a provider’s authority and responsibility to restrict use has resurfaced as a privately provided satellite network is used for military operations.

Starlink services in Ukraine currently appear to be operating normally. But the controversy has shown that private satellite networks have become core infrastructure in modern warfare, and that a company’s policy decisions can have a direct impact on the battlefield.

Musk has also stressed Starlink’s importance. He wrote on X, “If Starlink is turned off, the Ukrainian front will immediately collapse,” adding, “This is not a threat but a simple fact.”

As Russia seeks to accelerate the buildout of Rasvet, Putin’s disclosure of contact with Musk has prompted various interpretations. However, details of any cooperation and what role Musk might play in the Russian project were not disclosed. How far Russia’s satellite network will progress and how the influence of satellite communications in the war in Ukraine will change will remain in focus.