A US official has confirmed Russia released a space weapon into the same orbit as an American satellite.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday (May 21), Major General Pat Ryder revealed the news, following the initial allegation US Ambassador Robert Wood made to the UN on Monday, May 20.
“On May 16 Russia launched a satellite into low Earth orbit that we assess is likely a counter space weapon presumably capable of attacking other satellites in low Earth orbit,” Ryder said.
“Russia deployed this new counter space weapon into the same orbit as a US government satellite,” he told ABC News. “And so assessments further indicate characteristics resembling previously deployed counter space payloads from 2019 and 2022.”
It comes as the US and Russia drafted rival resolutions in an attempt to outlaw space weapons at the start of this week. The US and Japan specified weapons of mass destruction in their drafts, whereas the Russian draft discussed all types of weapons.
Although the UN eventually failed to pass this measure, its members still condemned Russia’s actions.
