Russia’s second launch of 16 Rassvet communications satellites on July 19 did not achieve the planned 550‑kilometer altitude, with most satellites placed between 300 and 400 kilometers and some experiencing orbital decay. Two satellites are on trajectories that will lead to reentry into the atmosphere, according to satellite tracking data from N2YO. The intended operational altitude is 870 kilometers, and satellites at lower altitudes have shorter lifespans due to increased atmospheric drag. Of the original 16 satellites launched on March 24, only 12 have maintained the targeted altitude, providing up to 1.5 hours of daily connectivity for Russian forces in Ukraine. Russia is accelerating the Rassvet program to compensate for the loss of Starlink services after the February 1 shutdown, but the repeated failures suggest difficulties in meeting its deployment schedule. Russia plans dozens more launches to field hundreds of satellites, a goal that may be constrained by limited Soyuz‑2.1b launch capacity, with only six to eight such launches conducted since 2022. Ukrainian strikes on the Progress Space Rocket Center and Plesetsk Cosmodrome have targeted launch infrastructure, potentially further delaying constellation development.

On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces reported advances in the Sumy, Borova, Slovyansk, and Kostyantynivka‑Druzhkivka sectors, while Russian forces conducted limited offensives in northern Kharkiv, the Oskil River corridor, and the Donetsk front. Ukrainian strikes hit logistics hubs in Belgorod, Orenburg, and Kyiv oblasts, damaging warehouses, power plants, and transport assets. Russian forces launched one Kh‑59 cruise missile and 121 drones overnight, with Ukrainian air defenses downing 96 drones; missile debris caused damage at multiple sites. Belarusian railways reported flat‑bed car shortages linked to military transport needs ahead of a joint Russian‑Belarusian air defense exercise. Russian officials continue to deny plans for large‑scale mobilization, though Kremlin‑linked sources indicate a possible covert recruitment effort ahead of the September State Duma elections. Putin met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 31 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, discussing Arctic shipping routes and broader economic cooperation. Russian officials also reiterated claims that NATO militarization in the Arctic poses a threat, while Ukrainian and Russian negotiators resumed limited talks aimed at ending the war.