Putin Praises Musk as 'True Genius' After Starlink Disruptions in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly praised Elon Musk as a "true genius," days after Starlink service disruptions affected Ukraine's military operations. Putin stated Russia maintains close contact with Musk to prevent satellite collisions between Rassvet and Starlink systems, emphasizing ongoing cooperation despite political tensions. The Russian embassy in South Africa confirmed these space-related communications with the United States. The praise follows Starlink's reported restriction in Ukraine, which degraded Kyiv's drone capabilities. It coincides with warming US-Russia relations under Donald Trump, including a diesel import deal and suspended sanctions, with Musk being a key White House ally and major Trump supporter.