Russia threatens to shoot down Western commercial satellites used to help Ukraine
EUROPEAN PRAVDA – THURSDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2022, 11:11
Konstantin Vorontsov, senior official of the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated that Russia may regard Western commercial satellites as legitimate targets if they are used to help Ukraine in the war.
Source: European Pravda, with reference to TASS, Russian state-owned news outlet, quoting Vorontsov
Vorontsov is the Deputy Director of the Department of Non-Proliferation and Arms Control of the Russian Foreign Ministry. His statement was made at the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly.
Vorontsov called the "use by the United States and its allies of civilian, including commercial, infrastructure elements in outer space for military purposes" to be "an extremely dangerous trend ... that has become apparent during the latest developments in Ukraine".
"Quasi-civilian infrastructure may become a legitimate target for retaliation. Western actions needlessly put at risk the sustainability of peaceful space activities, as well as numerous social and economic processes on Earth that affect the well-being of people, first of all in developing countries." Vorontsov said.
The Starlink satellite communication system from SpaceX plays an extremely important role for Ukraine.
In addition, Ukrainian volunteers used the funds, which were initially raised for the purchase of three Bayraktar drones, to purchase access to information from the group of satellites of the ICEYE Finnish company. The access was purchased for more than a year, as well as full access to one of the satellites until the end of its orbital life.
To recall: In November 2021, Russia tested an anti-satellite weapon in space, posing a threat to the International Space Station with debris of a defunct satellite.
Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
