Russia failed to launch the second batch of Rassvet satellites
The second batch of Russian "Rassvet" satellites failed to reach their planned operational altitude. Moscow is attempting to create its own satellite communications system as an alternative to Starlink, but the latest launch proved unsuccessful.
The second batch of 16 “Rassvet” satellites was launched on July 19. As of August 31, according to the N2YO satellite tracker, none of them had reached their planned operational altitude.
Most of the satellites are at an altitude of about 300–400 km, which is significantly lower than the stated parameters. Some satellites have already begun to drift out of orbit, and at least two, according to available information, may reenter Earth’s atmosphere.
A low orbit shortens the satellites’ operational life. Due to greater atmospheric drag, the satellites lose altitude more quickly, and more fuel must be expended to correct their trajectory.
Russia launched the first batch of “Rassvet” satellites on March 24. At that time, 12 out of 16 satellites were able to reach the required altitude.
As of the end of August, these satellites were still operating at an altitude of about 550 km. According to estimates, they provide Russian troops with up to one and a half hours of satellite communications twice a day over Ukrainian territory.
Thus, even this incomplete constellation already poses an additional threat to Ukraine, as it can be used to provide communications and control remote unmanned systems.
Russia is relying on “Rassvet” after losing access to Starlink on February 1. As a result, Moscow is attempting to accelerate the deployment of its own satellite constellation.
“Bureau 1440,” the company developing the system, has announced plans to conduct dozens more launches and put hundreds of new satellites into orbit.
According to estimates, Russia needs at least 200–300 operational satellites to ensure stable, round-the-clock coverage over Ukraine.
One of the main challenges for the rapid deployment of “Rassvet” remains the limited number of launch vehicles.
Russia uses the “Soyuz-2.1b” for launches, which is an expensive and scarce resource. According to the data, since the start of the full-scale war, the number of launches of this rocket has remained limited.
At the current pace, Moscow may not be able to quickly assemble the necessary satellite constellation. As of August 2026, only 37.5% of the launched “Rassvet” satellites had reached a stable operational altitude, according to estimates.
Russia’s ability to deploy the “Rassvet” also depends on the operation of its rocket and space infrastructure.
On the night of August 15, Ukrainian forces attacked the “Progress” rocket and space center, which manufactures launch vehicles of the “Soyuz” family.
In addition, on August 23, Ukraine attempted to strike the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. Two days later, a Soyuz-2.1b rocket carrying the GLONASS-K1 satellite was launched from there.
It was from Plesetsk that Russia launched both batches of “Rassvet” satellites. Therefore, damage to production facilities and launch infrastructure could potentially complicate the further deployment of the Russian satellite communications system.
This is according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The Russian “Rassvet” project, which Moscow calls its own answer to Starlink, has encountered new problems. At least two satellites launched on July 19 failed to reach the intended orbit and have already descended below 300 kilometers. According to space researchers, the satellites will most likely enter the dense layers of the atmosphere and burn up.
Russia is using Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicles to place the “Rassvet” satellites into orbit, which are intended to serve as a counterpart to Starlink.
After the Russian military stopped using Starlink satellite communications, Russia stepped up development of its own system called “Rassvet.” However, the project is significantly behind schedule, and it has not yet become a full-fledged alternative to the American network.
