US says Russia launched antisatellite weapon into space; Moscow shrugs off ‘fake news’

A senior Russian official on Wednesday rejected as “fake news” a US claim that Russia had launched a weapon into low Earth orbit that could attack other satellites.

Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said a day earlier that the Kremlin launched a satellite last week that was assessed as “likely an anti-space weapon capable of attacking other satellites in low Earth orbit.”

Ryder said the new anti-space weapon was “in the same orbit as a U.S. government satellite,” adding that Washington would continue to monitor the situation.

Asked whether Kremlin weapons currently pose a threat to U.S. government satellites, he said “yes.”

The U.S. Space Force also announced Tuesday that the Russian launch took place on May 16 from the country’s Plesetsk launch site, about 500 miles north of Moscow. The command added that the rocket deployed at least nine satellites, including a type of military “inspector” spacecraft.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that a launch involving a spacecraft had taken place, but did not provide further details.

“I don’t think we should react to any fake news coming from Washington,” Russia’s top arms control diplomat, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, told the state-run Interfax news agency. Reuters reported.

“The United States can say whatever it wants, but this does not change our policy,” Ryabkov added, adding that Moscow has “always and consistently opposed the deployment of offensive weapons in low Earth orbit.” It pointed out.

The denial follows similar Russian claims in February, when the United States claimed that Russia was developing space-based anti-satellite nuclear weapons to destroy Western satellites. Both Russian President Vladimir Putin and then-Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu denied the allegations.

U.S. intelligence agencies said the House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) cryptically announced that Congress had information about a “serious national security threat.” revealed the possibility of such space weapons.

Under the United Nations Security Council, the 1967 agreement known as the Outer Space Treaty aims to prevent the deployment of nuclear weapons in outer space. But last month, Russia vetoed a resolution reaffirming its commitment to the treaty.