Ukraine is asking the United States to sanction Russian companies and individuals it says are helping develop Rassvet, a domestic satellite communications network intended to serve as a smaller alternative to SpaceX’s Starlink. Denys Sienik, deputy chief of mission at the Ukrainian embassy in Washington, said Russia’s planned 2027 operating date could create serious risks for Ukraine and that Kyiv would provide information on the entities to the US government and Congress. Ukraine also plans to impose national sanctions on those linked to the program. Iks Holding CEO Alexei Shelobkov said in June that the company developing Rassvet had launched its first 16 low-orbit satellites in March and aims to reach 900 over several years, compared with more than 10,000 Starlink satellites currently in orbit. Starlink is banned in Russia, where use of its equipment is subject to fines. Kyiv is separately seeking expanded Starlink coverage over Russian territory to help identify ballistic-missile launchers, as Ukraine faces an acute air-defense shortage before winter. Sienik also criticized Washington’s response to Russian strikes on US companies operating in Ukraine, naming Boeing, Flex, Bunge, Coca-Cola and a logistics facility serving McDonald’s among affected sites.