In a new threat to Western countries backing Ukraine, led by the United States, Russia has confirmed that satellites can be a legitimate target for its strikes.
Vladimir Yermakov, director of the Department of Non-Proliferation and Arms Control of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said today, Wednesday, that semi-civilian satellites that Western countries use to support the Ukrainian army could become a target.
provocative use
He also added in statements to Sputnik: “Western countries are actively using the capabilities of the civil space infrastructure and the low-orbit satellite array to support Ukrainian forces, perform combat missions and locate the location, movement and actions of Russian troops, and also to control combat air assets.” And also for targeting precision-guided munitions from space.
He further stressed that such use is provocative and also raises questions about the Outer Space Treaty.
prevent their use
In addition, he considered that “given the global coverage of the Earth by civilian satellites, the Pentagon is testing the concept of possible control of forces anywhere in the world, and the vast majority of countries do not have effective means to counter this.” He indicated that his country was calling for the use of these satellites in combat missions to be prevented.
He also called on “all countries interested in the correct use of space technologies to make joint efforts in favor of the development of near-Earth space for purely peaceful purposes.”
In conclusion, he emphasized that “the establishment of legally binding rules of international law that are comprehensive and aimed at preventing an arms race in outer space is the only way to ensure that outer space is used only for peaceful purposes.”
It is noteworthy that relations between Russia and the United States have slipped to the very points of confrontation between them in the 60 years since the entry of Russian troops into Ukraine on February 24.
Washington imposed a series of tough sanctions on Moscow, while providing Kyiv with huge economic and military aid worth tens of billions of dollars, which further worsened relations between Washington and Moscow.
