Vladimir Putin hailed Elon Musk as a “genius” and said he was in contact with the tech billionaire as Russia develops its answer to his ⁠ Starlink satellite internet system.

It comes just weeks after Ukraine , which uses a version of Starlink as a key component of drone operations and battlefield communications , complained of speed restrictions that hampered its ability to intercept Russian attack drones and forced the cancellation of some operations.

The Russian president made the remark about Mr Musk on Wednesday as he listened to a presentation by digital development minister Maksut Shadayev, ⁠who said Russia had launched more than 30 satellites ​as ⁠it builds its own Starlink equivalent.

"Just a second, I want to point out this is just our first step.…