The anticipated launch of the initial group of 16 communication satellites, intended to be executed by the Russian firm Bureau 1440 at the close of last year, has been delayed. This development was highlighted by The Moscow Times, shedding light on a significant setback in the production of these satellites.
In September 2025, Dmitry Bakanov, the head of Roscosmos, assured the public that by the end of 2025, the deployment of the first 300 satellites would commence as part of the Rassvet initiative. These satellites are envisioned as an equivalent to the Starlink system, with a promise to deliver internet connectivity to any location around the globe.
However, according to reports, the postponement of the first 16 satellite launches until 2026 is likely due to the fact that the necessary number of satellites has not yet been fully assembled. The control center for managing high-speed internet under the Rassvet program is set to be operational in 2024, as stated by Bureau 1440, which claims to be advancing the project according to established timelines.
Despite this assurance, the company has kept precise launch dates and other critical information confidential. The Russian federal budget has earmarked an impressive 102.8 billion rubles (approximately $1.36 billion) towards this endeavor, which is part of the broader national "Data Economy" project. Additionally, Bureau 1440 is expected to invest another 329 billion rubles (about $4.36 billion) from its own resources by the year 2030.
Originally, the plan outlined that the first 16 satellites would be launched into orbit in 2025, with numbers projected to increase to 156 in 2026, followed by 292 in 2027, and reaching 318 by 2028.
At present, only six satellites developed by Bureau 1440 have been successfully placed into orbit, having been launched during two experimental missions. In June 2025, Bakanov reiterated that the Rassvet project aims to deploy over 900 low-orbit satellites designed for internet accessibility by the year 2035.
On a related note, it’s worth mentioning that Ukraine's initiative to develop low-orbit UASAT LEO satellites has officially entered the implementation phase. The inaugural Ukrainian satellite is slated for launch in October 2026, with a launch slot already secured.
Overall, the Ukrainian technology firm STETMAN has set an ambitious target to establish a network of 245 communication satellites in low orbit. This competition in satellite technology between Russia and Ukraine raises intriguing questions about the future landscape of global communications and the potential for differing success rates in their respective projects.
