Reuters: Putin Salutes Musk as Russia Scrambles to Match Starlink

Reuters confirms Putin saluted Musk's 'genius' as Russia plays catch-up with Starlink, framing the Russian leader's comments as an acknowledgment of SpaceX's insurmountable lead. The wire service notes Moscow's satellite program is years behind, dependent on domestic launch capacity that remains unreliable.

Starlink's constellation now exceeds 6,000 operational satellites, with laser links enabling global coverage without ground stations in every country. Russia's planned system, by contrast, exists largely on paper — a response to losing the connectivity race rather than a visionary leap. The Kremlin's praise isn't diplomacy; it's a damage assessment.

For Starlink users from Kyiv to rural Alaska, the news changes nothing. The service works because SpaceX built the factory, the rockets, and the orbit first. Russia's homage changes nothing on the ground — except to remind us who sets the pace.

Source: Putin salutes Musk's genius as Russia plays catch-up with Starlink — Reuters