Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly lauded Elon Musk on Wednesday, calling the SpaceX founder a “real genius” and revealing that Moscow coordinates directly with him regarding satellite operations in orbit.
Speaking to delegates alongside African leaders at a Moscow summit, Putin addressed Russia’s nascent efforts to deploy Rassvet, a domestic satellite network intended to rival SpaceX’s Starlink. Russia’s Digital Development and Communication Minister Maksut Shadayev showcased hardware from the Rassvet project during the event.
“Elon Musk is a genius, truly a genius,” Putin said, according to translations of his remarks reported by Bloomberg and Russian state media. The Russian leader emphasized the necessity of operational safety in orbit between the two nations, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.
“We are in close contact with our American partners, including Mr. Musk, because in orbit it is very important not to interfere with each other and to observe certain discipline and order,” Putin said.
Orbit Rivalry and Ukraine War Tensions
Putin noted the vast gap between the two countries’ satellite fleets. While Putin remarked that Musk has more than 5,000 satellites aloft, observers estimate that SpaceX operates approximately 10,000 active Starlink satellites in low Earth orbit. By contrast, Russia’s Rassvet program has roughly 26 working satellites, The Guardian reported.
The praise comes during a fraught period surrounding Starlink’s crucial role on the battlefield in Ukraine. Earlier this month, SpaceX curtailed access to Starshield, the specialized military variant of Starlink, which temporarily hindered Ukrainian drone operations and air defenses against Russian attacks. Musk defended the move on his social media platform X, stating that he shut down a loophole because civilian terms barred offensive strikes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed last week that connectivity and speeds had been restored across Starlink and Starshield networks after about 10 days of limitations. Even so, the disruption highlighted Kyiv’s deep reliance on Musk’s private communications infrastructure in resisting Russian forces.
Diplomatic and Political Crosscurrents
This is not the first instance of the Russian president speaking warmly of Musk. In 2023, Putin referred to the tech executive as an “outstanding person” and a skilled businessman. In 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk had maintained regular communication with Putin since late 2022, discussions that remained closely held inside the U.S. government.
Putin’s remarks about orbital safety also follow recent friction in space. Last week, U.S. diplomats criticized Russia for what they characterized as reckless movements after a Russian military satellite maneuvered close to an American-registered radar satellite that supplies intelligence to Kyiv. Moscow dismissed those diplomatic complaints as absurd.
Meanwhile, European allies have stepped forward with fresh defense commitments for Kyiv. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey announced a funding package that includes £500 million for air defense systems, while the Dutch government pledged €500 million in military aid for the coming winter. Zelenskyy said Wednesday he hopes three-way peace discussions between Ukraine, the U.S. and Russia can convene in Abu Dhabi next month following the U.S. midterm elections.
