Russia has lost the Express‑AT1 satellite, which had been used to broadcast propaganda media to the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.
The spacecraft stopped functioning on March 4 for unknown reasons and cannot be restored, according to reports by ASTRA and The Moscow Times.
Specialists attempted to restore the satellite’s operations, but the efforts were unsuccessful. The state-owned company confirmed that the satellite “can now be considered lost,” adding that a replacement is not expected to be launched into orbit before 2030.
The sudden shutdown of Express-AT1 halted broadcasts from major TV channels, including those operated by NTV-Plus, Tricolor TV, and Russkiy Mir.
The latter was created in 2022 specifically to exert informational influence over the occupied territories.
For residents of the occupied regions, Russkiy Mir had been a key tool of Russian propaganda. Due to sanctions, the operator cannot use foreign satellites’ capacity, unlike the commercial provider Tricolor TV.
Previously, the Russian authorities banned local residents from using satellite dishes configured to receive signals from European spacecraft.
