Russian President Vladimir Putin said he and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk are in "close contact" about Rassvet, Russia's answer to Starlink, Musk's internet satellite service. Putin made the remarks at the Russia-Africa Summit on Wednesday.
"Elon Musk is a genius, truly a genius," Putin said. "He has already had more than 5,000 such satellites in orbit, while we are only taking the first steps."
The report says Musk has recently voiced frustration with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ukrainian officials became concerned that Ukraine could lose access to Starshield, the military version of Starlink, after the U.S. eased sanctions on Russia earlier this month. Ukrainian forces rely on that network.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Musk ordered SpaceX to limit Ukraine's Starlink access. Other reports say the order came from the White House. Musk wrote on X that Ukraine violated Starlink terms of service by using the technology for "offensive drone strikes to kill people." The report says Starlink service in Ukraine has since resumed normal operations.
Musk also wrote on X: "Were Starlink to be turned off, the Ukrainian front line would collapse immediately. This is NOT a threat, it is simply a statement of fact."