On June 26, 2026, Ukrainian long-range weapons targeted a russian military Space Communications Center, widely identified as the 1st Rubin Communications Node, part of the 14th Main Communications Center of the General Staff of the russian Armed Forces.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the facility was one of the most modern and capable military communications hubs operated by russia in its central region.
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"This is the most modernized and capable communications node of the Armed Forces of the aggressor state in russia's central region. Ukraine's Defense Forces struck the main technical building, large antenna systems, and a tower equipped with parabolic antennas, some of which were destroyed," the General Staff stated.
Satellite imagery confirms damage to the facility near the settlement of Beloomut in Moscow region, approximately 100 km southeast of Moscow and roughly 450 km from Ukraine. The installation is associated with Military Unit 25801-D, which operates and maintains the site.
Unlike several previously targeted russian facilities, the Beloomut site is not operated by russia's Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). Instead, it belongs to the 14th Main Communications Center, an organization that reports directly to the russian General Staff.
The center is responsible for maintaining secure military communications, automated command-and-control systems, operational data exchange, and protected communications for the leadership of the russian Ministry of Defense and General Staff.
The designation Rubin refers not only to the Beloomut facility but also to russia's strategic military communications architecture. It is the name associated with the secure communications network used by the country's highest military command, as well as the callsign of the 1st Communications Node of the russian General Staff, which serves as the central command post of the russian Armed Forces.
Within this architecture, the Beloomut Space Communications Center functions as a major satellite communications hub, supporting military communications and providing control capabilities for russian spacecraft.
Publicly available information suggests that this is the only known permanent satellite communications center within the structure of the 14th Main Communications Center, highlighting its strategic importance. The facility is not designed to support frontline tactical operations but instead serves russia's highest level of military command and control.
The strike fits into a broader Ukrainian campaign targeting russia's military space infrastructure and the ground systems that enable its use of satellites for military purposes.
Earlier, Ukrainian forces successfully struck the 476th Central Reception and Processing Center of the GRU, a facility responsible for processing intelligence collected by russian reconnaissance satellites.
Before that, Ukraine targeted the Dubna Space Communications Center and the Vladimir Space Communications Center, both of which serve as important hubs for russia's military satellite communications network and spacecraft control systems.
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