Once the constellation is operational, Rassvet will become a major problem for Ukraine. “Russians will be able to attack our entire country using UAVs with online control via their satellites,” Beskrestnov said.

Rassvet also poses a threat to Europe, as Moscow will have its own system to control drones far from its territory. “Those drones could carry satellite terminals, allowing the Russians to control and direct them online over large distances,” Beskrestnov told POLITICO.

Rassvet already has partial capabilities over Ukrainian territory, Skibitskiy said.

The threat posed by Rassvet is prompting Ukraine to increase pressure on Musk to allow Ukraine to use Starlink signals while over Russia — something that Starlink has so far refused. Doing so would allow Ukraine to improve the targeting of its missiles and drones hitting targets deep inside Russia.

A change in policy by Musk could help Ukraine retain the battlefield advantage it gained earlier this year.

“We do destroy ballistic launchers and perform operations, but if Elon Musk switches on Starlink over Russia for us, it would make things easier,” Iryna Terekh, the head of Ukrainian missile and drone maker Fire Point, told POLITICO this week. “Our effectiveness would really rise.”