The key facts
- The presidium of the Security Council's scientific-expert council discussed the risks of using Starlink and OneWeb over the territory of sovereign states
- Authorized agencies were recommended to prepare proposals for the full-scale deployment of the Russian low-orbit system
- Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Starlink was being used to interfere in the internal affairs of more than ten states
What was discussed at the Security Council
The Western satellite communications systems Starlink and OneWeb may be used to destabilize the political and social situation in sovereign states — this was discussed at a meeting of the presidium of the scientific-expert council of the Security Council of Russia, reports Life.ru. The press service of the Security Council apparatus noted that the meeting identified 'the main risks and threats of the use of Western space communications systems over the territory of sovereign states.' According to the Russian agency, the countries of greatest interest to operators are those seeking to accelerate the digitalization of their economies.
A bet on a domestic system
The meeting was devoted to the prospects of the Russian low-orbit satellite communications and internet access system — participants discussed its importance for information security and the possibilities of its use abroad. Experts emphasized the need to accelerate the development of the country's own satellite infrastructure: this requires scaling up the serial production of spacecraft and user equipment. Following the discussion, the authorized agencies were recommended to prepare proposals for the full-scale deployment of the Russian system and ensuring its stable operation.
Context of previous statements
The topic is not new for Russian power structures: earlier, Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu warned about the risks of states becoming dependent on Western satellite operators, and in May 2026 he proposed that countries of the Global South and East consider the Russian low-orbit system as an alternative to Starlink and OneWeb. The Russian Foreign Ministry, according to Life.ru, has also stated that Starlink is being used to interfere in the internal affairs of more than ten states, drawing attention to the possibility of organizing satellite communication channels bypassing national regulation.
Domestic projects
One of the Russian projects in this field is the Rassvet satellite constellation, which is being created by the company Bureau 1440. It is intended for broadband internet access, including in remote areas where there is no stable terrestrial connection. Thus, the November meeting of the Security Council continues the line previously outlined by Shoigu and the Foreign Ministry: the declared risks of foreign services are used as an argument in favor of accelerating the deployment of the country's own constellation, although the report does not provide specific timelines or parameters for the deployment.
