Russia cloaks launch schedule after spaceport falls in Ukraine’s sights

Recent reports indicate that Russia's northern spaceport has faced multiple drone attack attempts in recent months, although none have successfully hit the facility. This heightened activity at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome coincides with Russia's efforts to establish a satellite network similar to SpaceX's Starlink, which plays a crucial role in Ukraine's military communication systems. Located approximately 500 miles north of Moscow in the Arkhangelsk region, Plesetsk is primarily a military base. The Russian space agency, Roscosmos, first acknowledged the drone threats during a recent meeting between its head, Dmitry Bakanov, and President Vladimir Putin. Bakanov presented a list of the nation's recent space achievements, which, despite being notable, positioned Russia as a distant third behind the United States and China with only 17 launches planned for 2025. Among the highlights of Russia's space endeavors was the launch of the initial batch of communications satellites on March 23, marking a significant milestone for the country's own satellite network, Rassvet. Backed by over $1.2 billion from the government and developed by Bureau 1440, the network aims to enhance Russia's communication capabilities. The first 16 satellites were successfully deployed aboard a Soyuz-2.1b rocket from Plesetsk. During the April 11 meeting, Bakanov claimed that foreign adversaries attempted to disrupt the satellite launch, stating, “Our ‘friends’ did everything they could to prevent this launch from taking place.” He praised the joint efforts of Roscosmos and the Space Forces for successfully executing the mission despite the threats. In response to the drone threats, local authorities in Mirny, the nearest town to the spaceport, issued warnings of a potential drone threat from March 22 to 25. Citizens reported disruptions in mobile internet service, which officials attributed to necessary security measures to safeguard residents and critical infrastructure.