Putin calls Elon Musk a ‘real genius’

President Vladimir 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, Reuters reported.

Putin made the ​remark while listening 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. Elon Musk is a genius, he's just ​a real genius," said Putin, who was accompanied by a group of African leaders attending a summit in ​Moscow.

Shadayev said in reply to a question from Putin that Musk had more than 5,000 low-orbit satellites up and running — although the actual number is close to 10,000, according to independent tracking site Orbital Radar.

"Over 5,000 — ​while we are only taking our first steps. But we are proud that we have begun to do ​this, and started to do it independently," Putin said, adding that the task now was "to move from quality to quantity".

"We ‌are in ⁠close contact with our American partners — including Mr Musk — because it is very important, in orbit, not to get in each other's way and to maintain a certain level of discipline and order," he said.

Starlink uses a constellation of satellites that orbit far lower than traditional geostationary communications satellites, reducing signal travel time.

Ukraine has relied ​heavily on the system and ​its military version Starshield, but ⁠complained earlier this month of speed restrictions that hampered its ability to intercept Russian attack drones and forced the cancellation of some operations.