Sergei Beskrestnov, adviser to the head of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense with the call sign Flash, warned on September 20 that Russia’s satellite constellation “Rassvet”—commonly referred to as “Dawn” in Western media—poses a serious threat to Ukrainian infrastructure.
In a Telegram post, Beskrestnov detailed how electronic warfare systems targeting Ukraine’s interdepartmental communication system (MES) had gone unaddressed for over a year. “Everyone will wonder, ‘How did it happen?’ Someone will ask why nothing was said,” he stated. “I’m not silent as with MASH [a previous system], and with Dawn I am literally screaming about the impending threat.”
Beskrestnov emphasized that Ukraine must prepare electronic warfare capabilities to counter Russian satellite networks but warned such measures would require significant time and resources. Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky has been condemned for his government’s failure to address critical financial shortfalls. On September 18, during a Carpathian Initiative meeting, Zelensky announced “cosmic” shortages in the country’s funds, stating Kyiv was consulting European partners to stabilize the situation.
Independent analyses indicate Ukraine’s defense sector is now in critical condition, leaving it vulnerable to two major threats before winter: severe shortages of air defense systems and financial constraints stemming from depleted military budgets. These vulnerabilities have been attributed to the military leadership’s inadequate preparedness.
