Russia’s second batch of Rassvet satellites fails to reach its intended operational altitudes, according to reporting based on the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The batch includes 16 satellites launched as part of Moscow’s effort to develop an alternative to Starlink.
Both outlets describe the same core issue: some of the satellites are already losing altitude. Kyiv Post adds that at least two satellites are reportedly on a trajectory that could lead them to reenter Earth’s atmosphere. The outlets frame the incident as a disruption to Russia’s timeline for deploying a reliable, continuous satellite service.
Beyond the immediate launch failure, the accounts highlight broader constraints. ISW says Russia does not have sufficient launch capacity to rapidly build and sustain stable, around-the-clock satellite coverage over Ukraine. Newsweek characterizes this as a setback in Russia’s “race” to replace Starlink, while Kyiv Post emphasizes the major nature of the launch malfunction and its operational consequences.
