Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that he is in close contact with Elon Musk about satellite technology and called the SpaceX founder a genius, the BBC reported, citing remarks at the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow¹.

Putin discussed Russia's satellite internet project Rassvet, which the BBC said provides internet from satellites¹. "He's a genius, a real genius," Putin said of Musk, according to a BBC translation¹. He added that Russia is in close contact with American partners, including Musk¹.

Putin said it was important to stay in contact so Rassvet and Starlink satellites do not interfere with each other in orbit¹. He said both sides value the work despite political questions¹. Starlink is part of SpaceX; the company did not respond to a BBC request for comment¹.

Starlink has launched about 13,000 satellites, according to the company as cited by the BBC, while online trackers show only a couple of dozen Rassvet satellites in orbit¹. The Russian Embassy in South Africa said Wednesday that Rassvet is Russia's Starlink alternative and marks first steps in the field, and that Russia keeps close contacts with the United States on space, including with Musk¹.

The BBC placed the comments in a wider U.S.-Russia context, including Ukraine's use of Starlink and recent U.S. policy moves toward Moscow, which this filing does not independently verify¹. What Musk or SpaceX have said privately about any contact with Russian officials was not established in the report¹.