Russia's Rassvet satellites, operated by Bureau 1440, now provide at least two communication windows of more than an hour each per day over Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi and cited by military analyst Rob Lee on August 1.

As of July 31, 12 of the 16 satellites launched in late March had reached their operational altitude of 550km, with three more gradually ascending and one lost, presumably to a manufacturing defect.

The constellation. Has now gone live as Russia moves to replace Elon Musk’s Skylink, access to which has been cut off by the American billionaire at Ukraine’s request. The new system gives Russian forces a steadier communications link over the battlefield, better coordinated drone operations and command-and-control against Ukrainian positions.