How a Russian satellite network could change the nature of attacks on Ukraine. Russia continues to deploy its own low-orbit communications system. According to orbit monitoring data published by Militar, as of the beginning of November, 30 out of 32 serial "Dawn" satellites were in orbit, with 26 reaching an intermediate altitude of approximately 508 kilometers. It is not yet a completed network, but it is too early to cancel the project due to the loss of individual satellites. Ukrainian experts see the main threat in the emergence of a Russian channel to control drones over the territory of Ukraine. Sergey Baskarstanov, known as "Flash", specifically warned against this possibility. Military expert Oleg Starykov, in a comment to DW, noted that for Russia to achieve its military goals, it does not necessarily need to reach the global scale of Starlink. The key factors are the availability of communication in the required direction and the ability to use it with forces. The satellite communications expert Vladimir Stefanitz, as early as last summer, assessed the trajectory configuration of the first batch as enabling the formation of at least two potential communications windows over Ukraine per day, each lasting more than an hour. Through communication satellites can increase the accuracy of UAVs. With the appropriate terminals and equipment, the operator gains the ability to receive images, assess the situation and adjust the UAV's operations in flight. The development of "Dawn" can make certain attacks more controlled and selective. For Ukraine, this means an additional risk to logistics and backend infrastructure. In October, "Flash" rejected the identification of devices found on the "Mulania" satellites as terminals of this system. The potential for satellite control is significant, and it may become a decisive factor next year.

How a Russian satellite network could change the nature of attacks on Ukraine. Russia continues to deploy its own low-orbit communications system. According to orbit monitoring data published by Militar, as of the beginning of November, 30 out of 32 serial "Dawn" satellites were in orbit, with 26 reaching an intermediate altitude of approximately 508 kilometers. It is not yet a completed network, but it is too early to cancel the project due to the loss of individual satellites. Ukrainian experts see the main threat in the emergence of a Russian channel to control drones over the territory of Ukraine. Sergey Baskarstanov, known as "Flash", specifically warned against this possibility. Military expert Oleg Starykov, in a comment to DW, noted that for Russia to achieve its military goals, it does not necessarily need to reach the global scale of Starlink. The key factors are the availability of communication in the required direction and the ability to use it with forces. The satellite communications expert Vladimir Stefanitz, as early as last summer, assessed the trajectory configuration of the first batch as enabling the formation of at least two potential communications windows over Ukraine per day, each lasting more than an hour. Through communication satellites can increase the accuracy of UAVs. With the appropriate terminals and equipment, the operator gains the ability to receive images, assess the situation and adjust the UAV's operations in flight. The development of "Dawn" can make certain attacks more controlled and selective. For Ukraine, this means an additional risk to logistics and backend infrastructure. In October, "Flash" rejected the identification of devices found on the "Mulania" satellites as terminals of this system. The potential for satellite control is significant, and it may become a decisive factor next year.