Elon Musk is a true genius – said Putin, then revealed that they are in close contact with the head of SpaceX.

Vladimir Putin praised Elon Musk as a "genius" during the Russia-Africa summit, highlighting their close collaboration in satellite technology. He emphasized the importance of coordinating efforts between Russia's Rassvet project and Musk's Starlink to avoid interference in orbit. The Russian embassy referred to Rassvet as an alternative to Starlink, indicating ongoing cooperation in space research. Musk's SpaceX has played a significant role in Ukraine's military operations since the Russian invasion, providing Starlink services despite previous access restrictions. Musk has intervened in the service's availability, notably limiting access near Crimea to disrupt Ukrainian attacks.