Russia’s national Starlink alternative project has just imploded

Russia’s effort to build a domestic alternative to Starlink is collapsing under structural, financial, and technological pressure. Persistent funding shortfalls and sanctions have stalled satellite production and delayed launches indefinitely. Without a resilient space-based internet network, Russian forces remain locked out of true network-centric warfare. This forces continued reliance on fragmented, vulnerable communications and centralized command methods ill-suited to modern combat. As Ukraine and NATO operate with persistent satellite connectivity, the gap in situational awareness and coordination continues to widen. What appears to be a technical failure has become a decisive operational disadvantage shaping battlefield outcomes.

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