Putin calls Elon Musk 'truly a genius,' says they are in close contact on Russia's Rassvet satellite project
Luis Cabral ·
Russian President Vladimir Putin called Elon Musk "truly a genius" and said he is in "close contact" with the billionaire about Rassvet, a Starlink-like satellite internet project, today, according to TechCrunch. The remarks land squarely in the geopolitics of space and connectivity as Russia pursues sovereign communications capacity under sanctions. They also raise fresh questions for Musk, whose SpaceX operates Starlink, a system widely used by Ukraine and unavailable in Russia.
TechCrunch reports Putin linked his claimed close contact with Musk to Rassvet's development, positioning it as a homegrown rival aimed at nationwide broadband coverage. Any collaboration or consultation would face intense scrutiny in Washington and European capitals given export controls and the wartime context. Watch for any confirmation or clarification from Musk, details on Rassvet's architecture and timeline, and potential regulatory responses in the US and EU. [Developing. This article will be updated.]