Sanctions Target Russian Companies and Individuals Involved in Rassvet Satellite System Development
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed decrees enacting decisions of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to impose sanctions on Russian companies and individuals involved in developing the Rassvet satellite communications system. The sanctions package targeting the Rassvet system includes 10 companies and 19 Russians associated with them, who are involved in efforts to launch the Rassvet system, which the aggressor plans to use on Ukrainian territory to continue its aggressive and unprovoked war.
The Russian Federation seeks to establish a satellite system similar to the Starlink network that would enable it to command troops and target and control attack drones, including “shaheds,” and missiles in real-time. The deployment of this system could help Russia not only maintain continuous real-time control of its weapons in Ukraine but also pose threats to other countries.
Sanctioned Companies and Individuals Revealed
Among the sanctioned companies are Bureau 1440, the developer, coordinator, and systems integrator of the Rassvet project; Labs 1440, affiliated with Bureau 1440, which specializes in producing solar panels for spacecraft; FAB Rassvet, which develops, manufactures, and provides support for low-Earth orbit communications satellites and user terminals; and the Belarusian company Aerospace Instruments, which develops and prototypes components for aerospace systems. Sanctions have also been imposed on 5S Group, which supplies foreign industrial equipment to Russia and develops industrial computers under the RMatic brand.
One of these computers was supplied to a sanctioned manufacturer of electronic warfare systems and Orlan drones and used in research and development work for Bureau 1440. In addition, sanctions have been imposed on Aquamash Production Association, which specializes in machining metal products and manufacturing high-precision parts; El-Optics, which supplies, services, and integrates optical, telecommunications, and laser equipment, photonic equipment, and quantum communications systems; Elesar Group, which supplies Russia with foreign-made electronic components and equipment; and Small Spacecraft, which specializes in developing space technology and ground-based satellite communications equipment.
Shadow Fleet Vessels Targeted
In addition to the sanctions on companies and individuals involved in the Rassvet system, another sanctions package has been imposed on the shadow fleet. The package includes 39 vessels sailing under the flags of Russia — 17, Barbados — 3, Liberia — 3, the Marshall Islands — 3, Panama — 3, Hong Kong — 2, Djibouti — 2, the Bahamas — 1, Equatorial Guinea — 1, Zimbabwe — 1, Cameroon — 1, Palau — 1, and Sierra Leone — 1. These vessels facilitate the export of Russian oil, petroleum products, and gas condensate, which is the most important source of revenue for the aggressor state’s budget and is subsequently used to finance the war against Ukrainians.
The vessels transport Russian energy resources to ports in China, India, Egypt, Türkiye, and other countries. Just one of them, Vasily Dinkov, carried out 15 operations transporting around 726,000 metric tons of Russian crude oil in the first half of 2026 alone. Some of these vessels are already under sanctions imposed by the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Switzerland, and Australia. Ukraine will provide its partners with all the information needed to fully synchronize sanctions across international jurisdictions.
“Rassvet is Russia’s attempt to create its own low-Earth orbit satellite system and use it in the war against Ukraine and to pose threats to the entire world. The project depends on foreign technologies, equipment, and components, so we are targeting these supply chains already at the development stage and calling on our partners to synchronize sanctions,” emphasized Advisor – Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Sanctions Policy Vladyslav Vlasiuk.
Original Article: Russia’s Rassvet Satellite System and Shadow Fleet Vessels: Ukraine Imposed New Sanctions — Com