Putin says he is in "close contact" with Musk over Russian satellite internet

Vladimir Putin said on 29 October 2026 he is in "close contact" with Elon Musk about Rassvet, Russia's satellite internet project. It rivals Starlink, the satellite internet service from SpaceX. At the Russia-Africa Summit, Putin called Musk "a genius, truly a genius." He said Musk has more than 5,000 satellites in orbit, while Russia is taking its first steps.