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WorldQuiet 7d · day 12

Putin calls Musk a 'real genius,' says Russia is in close contact with him on satellites

At a Moscow summit, Putin praised Musk and described coordination with SpaceX as Russia builds its own lagging Starlink rival, Rassvet, weeks after Musk throttled Ukraine's Starshield access.

newest coverage 6d agosummary written 9d ago147 pieces17k likes & upvotes608 comments NewswiresRedditHacker NewsGoogle NewsMastodonXBluesky

What to know

  • Putin's praise comes weeks after SpaceX deliberately throttled Ukraine's military Starshield connectivity, which Musk admitted to.
  • Russia's own satellite system, Rassvet, has only about 26-30 satellites in orbit versus an estimated 10,000 for Starlink.
  • The remarks land amid a broader US-Russia thaw, including a Trump-brokered diesel deal, waived sanctions, and a prisoner release.
  • Online reaction largely interprets Putin's comments as confirmation of coordination between Musk and Moscow, though some defend Musk's throttling as limited to enforcing terms of service.

The dispute Whether Musk's Starshield throttling and Putin's praise reflect genuine collusion with Moscow, or simply coincidental enforcement of Starlink's terms of service. · positions read across 45 posts and comments

most voices

Putin's comments confirm Musk is coordinating with or compromised by Russia, and the Starshield throttling served Moscow's interests.

  • “THIS IS WHY ELON SHUT OUT UKRAINE FROM STARLINK. Elon and Trump should be tried for TREASON.”

    ruralfreedomnet.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
some voices

The throttling was a narrow enforcement of terms of service, not evidence Musk sided with Russia.

  • “Fuck Elon but he would have just shut down starlink all through the Ukraine if he was against them. He only shut down comms from devices traveling over a certain speed temporarily.”

    crujones43 · Reddit ↗
some voices

Putin's flattery is a manipulation tactic aimed at ego-driven figures like Musk and Trump.

  • “If there's one thing Putin is good at, it's emotionally manipulating pathetic men with fragile egos.”

    mrwho995 · Reddit ↗

“Starlink remains critical to the defense of Ukraine, as it is the only system that cannot be jammed or blown up, at least for now. Were Starlink to be turned off, the Ukrainian front line would collapse immediately. This is NOT a threat, it is simply a statement of fact.”

Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO · X, quoted via New Republic ↗ · Oct 27

Vladimir PutinVladimir Putin Russian PresidentElon MuskElon Musk SpaceX/Starlink CEOVolodymyr ZelenskyyVolodymyr Zelenskyy Ukrainian PresidentDonald TrumpDonald Trump US PresidentMaksut Shadayev Russian digital development minister

Putin calls Musk a 'real genius,' says Russia is in close contact with him on satellites
bbc.com

How it unfolded 4 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlespostscomments

Peak 36 pieces in 3h at Oct 28, 10 AM; 147 pieces over 12 days (66 articles · 62 posts · 19 comments) Oct 27, 7 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Mastodon 1Oct 27, 10 PM — quietOct 28, 1 AM — quietOct 28, 4 AM — quietOct 28, 7 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — X 1Oct 28, 10 AM — 36 pieces · 23 articles · 8 posts · 5 comments — Newswires 12, Google News 11, Reddit 7, +2 moreOct 28, 1 PM — 31 pieces · 16 articles · 11 posts · 4 comments — Newswires 11, Mastodon 9, Reddit 5, +2 moreOct 28, 4 PM — 19 pieces · 9 articles · 10 posts — Mastodon 6, Newswires 5, Google News 4, +3 moreOct 28, 7 PM — 6 pieces · 1 article · 5 posts — Bluesky 2, Mastodon 2, Google News 1, +1 moreOct 28, 10 PM — 2 pieces · 2 posts — Mastodon 2Oct 29, 1 AM — 7 pieces · 1 article · 6 posts — Reddit 3, Mastodon 2, Bluesky 1, +1 moreOct 29, 4 AM — 21 pieces · 9 articles · 7 posts · 5 comments — Newswires 8, Reddit 7, X 4, +2 moreOct 29, 7 AM — 6 pieces · 1 article · 4 posts · 1 comment — Mastodon 2, Reddit 2, Hacker News 1, +1 moreOct 29, 10 AM — 3 pieces · 1 article · 1 post · 1 comment — Reddit 1, Hacker News 1, Mastodon 1Oct 29, 1 PM — 2 pieces · 2 comments — Reddit 2Oct 29, 4 PM — 6 pieces · 4 articles · 1 post · 1 comment — Google News 3, Reddit 1, Mastodon 1, +1 moreOct 29, 7 PM — quietOct 29, 10 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Oct 30, 1 AM — 2 pieces · 2 posts — Bluesky 1, Hacker News 1Oct 30, 4 AM — quietOct 30, 7 AM — quietOct 30, 10 AM — quietOct 30, 1 PM — quietOct 30, 4 PM — quietOct 30, 7 PM — quietOct 30, 10 PM — quietOct 31, 1 AM — quietOct 31, 4 AM — quietOct 31, 7 AM — quietOct 31, 10 AM — quietOct 31, 1 PM — quietOct 31, 4 PM — quietOct 31, 7 PM — quietOct 31, 10 PM — quietNov 1, 1 AM — quietNov 1, 3 AM — quietNov 1, 6 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Nov 1, 9 AM — quietNov 1, 12 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Bluesky 1Nov 1, 3 PM — quietNov 1, 6 PM — quietNov 1, 9 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Nov 2, 12 AM — quietNov 2, 3 AM — quietNov 2, 6 AM — quietNov 2, 9 AM — quietNov 2, 12 PM — quietNov 2, 3 PM — quietNov 2, 6 PM — quietNov 2, 9 PM — quietNov 3, 12 AM — quietNov 3, 3 AM — quietNov 3, 6 AM — quietNov 3, 9 AM — quietNov 3, 12 PM — quietNov 3, 3 PM — quietNov 3, 6 PM — quietNov 3, 9 PM — quietNov 4, 12 AM — quietNov 4, 3 AM — quietNov 4, 6 AM — quietNov 4, 9 AM — quietNov 4, 12 PM — quietNov 4, 3 PM — quietNov 4, 6 PM — quietNov 4, 9 PM — quietNov 5, 12 AM — quietNov 5, 3 AM — quietNov 5, 6 AM — quietNov 5, 9 AM — quietNov 5, 12 PM — quietNov 5, 3 PM — quietNov 5, 6 PM — quietNov 5, 9 PM — quietNov 6, 12 AM — quietNov 6, 3 AM — quietNov 6, 6 AM — quietNov 6, 9 AM — quietNov 6, 12 PM — quietNov 6, 3 PM — quietNov 6, 6 PM — quietNov 6, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 9 AM — quiet 1–34
Oct 28Oct 29Oct 30Oct 31Nov 1Nov 2Nov 3Nov 4Nov 5Nov 6now · 12:37 PM ET
  1. 4

    Coverage ties Putin's praise to wider US-Russia thaw

    Outlets connected the remarks to a broader warming between Washington and Moscow — Trump's diesel deal with Russia, waived sanctions, and the release of a US citizen from Russian custody — even as the war approaches its five-year mark.

    • TechCrunch@mstdn.social

      Putin said that he and Musk are in "close contact" about Rassvet, Russia's Starlink-like satellite connectivity project. https:// techcrunch.com/2026/10/29/elon -musk-is-truly-a-genius-says-vladimir-putin/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon

      TechCrunch@mstdn.socialMastodon9d ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 21 posts in this stretch

    • There ya go bubba: Tesla EVs in Scandinavia • Norway: Tesla remains the top-selling brand overall. It sold 34,285 units in 2025 (a 19.1% market share), led heavily by the Tesla Model Y. • Sweden & Denmark: Tesla has faced steep sales drops. In Sweden and Denmark, monthly and annual registrations fell significantly through 2025 (with Swedish…

      ioabor/europe9d agoview on r/europe ↗

    • Putin praised Elon Musk and called him one of his “American” partners, this come after weeks of Musk antagonizing Ukraine and throttling their air defence. “Elon Musk is genius, a real genius.” “We are in close contact with our American partners, including Mr. Musk.”

      @youranoncentralX10d agoview on X ↗
    all of them →
  2. 3

    Social media accuses Musk of collusion with Moscow

    Posts across X, Bluesky and Reddit framed Putin's praise as confirmation that Musk's Starshield throttling served Russian interests, with some users alleging treason and others calling the arrangement a payoff.

    “THIS IS WHY ELON SHUT OUT UKRAINE FROM STARLINK. Elon and Trump should be tried for TREASON.”
    — @ruralfreedomnet.bsky.social
    1. 9 outlets Putin hails Elon Musk’s ‘genius’ amid plans for Russian version of Starlink

      first by Guardian Business, 10d ago · also Guardian Science, Guardian, BBC, BBC Science, The Times, The Independent +2

      7 more headlines

    • So Putin admits that Russia is working closely with Elon Musk? 🧐

      @NatalkaKyivX10d ago966▲view on X ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 17 posts in this stretch
    • ruralfreedomnet.bsky.social

      THIS IS WHY ELON SHUT OUT UKRAINE FROM STARLINK. Elon and Trump should be tried for TREASON.

      ruralfreedomnet.bsky.socialBluesky10d ago4▲view on Bluesky ↗
    • chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca

      There’s going to be another reason for news media to bug @ sundogplanets for professional advice. Now we’re talking # RussiaUkraineWar "Putin added that it was important for Russia to be in contact with Musk so Rassvet and Starlink satellites do not "interfere with each other in orbit". "We and our American partners value this mutually, and…

      chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.caMastodon10d ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  3. 2

    Details emerge on Russia's Rassvet lagging far behind Starlink

    Reports noted Rassvet has only about 26-30 satellites in orbit, following a presentation by digital development minister Maksut Shadayev, compared with an estimated 10,000 for Starlink; the Russian Embassy in South Africa called Rassvet 'Russia's Starlink alternative' still in its 'first steps'.

    “How many of these [satellites] does he have in orbit? More than 5,000, and we're only taking the first steps.”
    — Vladimir Putin
    • gottalaff.bsky.social@bsky.brid.gy

      "Kremlin chief says Russia is in touch with Musk and US Putin hailed Elon ​Musk as a genius on Wednesday, acknowledging Russia is only beginning to roll out its ‌answer to his Starlink satellite internet system." RE:

      gottalaff.bsky.social@bsky.brid.gyMastodon11d ago6▲view on Mastodon ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 6 posts in this stretch

    • Isn't this just classic Russia, when it comes to cyber psychological warfare? Take a belief people have within the USA or western countries and add fuel to the flame to create more division. If Musk was a Russian asset why would he ever openly admit it?

      Jeeblezr/worldnews11d agoview on r/worldnews ↗

    • Genius Musk whose company Tesla has dipped to 0.3% growth in the stock markets in five years. The S&P 500 is at 68% for the same period. Stick to correcting your financial losses instead of playing Russian Military Officer, General Musk.

      LordHazlewoodr/worldnews11d agoview on r/worldnews ↗
    all of them →
  4. 1

    Putin calls Musk a 'genius' and reveals close contact with SpaceX

    At the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, Putin praised Musk while discussing Russia's own satellite internet project Rassvet, saying Russia and Musk coordinate to avoid interfering with each other's satellites in orbit.

    “Elon Musk is a genius, truly a genius.”
    — Vladimir Putin
    1. 11 outlets Putin calls Elon Musk a 'genius' as Russia builds its own Starlink rival

      first by Euronews, 10d ago · also Yahoo, Telegraph, The Hill, Bloomberg, CNBC, BBC +4

      11 more headlines
    2. 7 outlets Putin Calls Elon Musk a “Genius,” Says Russia Coordinates With Him

      first by New Republic, 10d ago · also ZeroHedge, Channel News Asia, Reuters, ThePrint, Straits Times, The New Republic

      3 more headlines
    1 more claim →

    • JUST IN: 🇷🇺🇺🇸 Russian President Putin says Elon Musk is a "true genius."

      @WatcherGuruX11d ago16k▲view on X ↗
  5. background

    Zelenskyy announces Starlink and Starshield service restored — After about 10 days of restriction, Ukraine's president said operations were back to normal speeds, though observers doubted the underlying dispute was permanently resolved.

  6. background

    SpaceX throttles Ukraine's Starshield military connectivity — Ukraine's military suddenly suffered Starlink/Starshield connectivity problems, hampering medium drone attacks and anti-drone air defenses; Musk later admitted the restriction was intentional, saying a loophole allowing offensive military use of civilian Starlink had been closed.

What people are saying 15 voices from 4 sites · best of 45 · verbatim

Still unanswered
  • What exactly does 'close contact' between Musk and Putin on satellites involve?
  • Is the earlier Starshield throttling connected to the orbital coordination Putin describes?