Russia launching its own answer to Starlink faster than planned
Russia is deploying its Rassvet satellite system, seen as Moscow's answer to Starlink, significantly faster than originally planned, Ukraine's military intelligence deputy chief Vadym Skibitskyi shared during an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
Skibitskyi said Russia placed 16 Rassvet satellites into low Earth orbit in March 2026 and plans to build a constellation of 292 satellites by 2027, eventually expanding to 924 satellites by 2035.
The system currently operates only intermittently when satellites pass over Ukrainian territory, but Skibitskyi said a fully deployed constellation could provide capabilities similar to Starlink. He added that Ukraine and its partners are already discussing ways to counter the system.
Also, Vadym Skibitskyi said that Russia is shifting its drone production toward faster jet-powered Geran-4 and Geran-5 strike drones as Ukrainian forces become increasingly effective at intercepting slower piston-engine drones.
Skibitskyi said Russia plans to produce about 11,000 Geran-1, Geran-2, Geran-3, Geran-4 and Geran-5 drones, along with Garpiya and Gerbera drones, in August 2026. Production of the listed strike drones declined slightly in July as Russia redirected capacity toward the jet-powered Geran-4 and Geran-5.
The faster drones can sustain higher speeds, reducing the time available for Ukrainian air defenses to detect and intercept them. Their speed also makes them more difficult for Ukrainian interceptor drones to pursue, potentially increasing the effectiveness of Russia's large-scale drone attacks.
Russia will increasingly target Ukrainian energy infrastructure in winter 2026/2027
Ukrainian defense technology and drone warfare expert Serhiy "Flash" Beskrestnov is warning that Russia is expected to intensify strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure during the winter of 2026–2027.
In turn, President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Ukrainian authorities to prepare for the winter by strengthening critical infrastructure, expanding shelters and improving defenses against ballistic missiles. Zelenskyy added that Ukraine has literally no undamaged power plants remaining, while Russian attacks have also damaged railway stations, hospitals, universities and businesses.
The Kremlin is reportedly preparing a large-scale campaign against energy infrastructure in Kyiv in the coming weeks, seeking to disrupt efforts to reinforce the power system while exploiting Ukraine's shortage of ballistic missile interceptors.
Russian plans for mobilization 'confirmed by internal documents,' Zelensky
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky's statement, Ukraine has intelligence indicating Moscow plans to launch another large-scale military mobilization after Russia's parliamentary elections in September.
"Putin's plan is not particularly complicated… after the so-called elections, he plans an additional rapid mobilization of several hundred thousand Russians by the end of the year, plus the same number for the year after," Zelenskyy said.
Reportedly, the plans are supported by internal Russian documents that he discussed with Ukraine's intelligence chiefs. Zelensky said he had instructed Ukrainian intelligence and special services to take steps to make the mobilization as difficult as possible for Russia to carry out.
Russia's parliamentary elections are scheduled for September 18–20, with Putin's United Russia party widely expected to retain control amid the absence of credible opposition. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned in recent months that Russia could announce a new mobilization as the Kremlin struggles to meet its recruitment targets while suffering heavy battlefield losses.
Moscow has relied heavily on contract soldiers, foreign recruits and North Korean troops to sustain its forces. Russia's only formal partial mobilization since the full-scale invasion was announced in September 2022, triggering protests and a large wave of emigration.
A new nationwide mobilization could carry significant political risks for the Kremlin. CSIS analyst Max Bergmann previously described such a move as a major gamble for Putin that could expose the growing strain on the Russian system and create additional political pressure on the regime.