Deploying these weapons in space will allow Russia to destroy American government and private satellites, in particular the Starlink constellation.
Russian satellite Kosmos-2553, orbiting the Earth in an unusual orbit, is designed to test components of a potential anti-satellite nuclear weapon.
This was reported by the authoritative publication The Wall Street Journal with reference to unnamed American officials.
The spacecraft was launched into Earth orbit on February 5, 2022 – shortly before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
According to sources, this satellite secretly acts as a platform for research and development of non-nuclear components of a new weapons system that Russia has not yet deployed. It does not carry nuclear weapons, but U.S. officials have linked it to Russia's nuclear anti-satellite program, which has raised concerns in recent months among the Biden administration, Congress and outside government experts.
The publication's sources claim that the deployment of these weapons in space will allow Russia to destroy American government and private satellites, in particular the Starlink constellation, which has become very important for the defenders of Ukraine.
Moscow officially declares that the Cosmos-2553 satellite is intended only for scientific observations.
Earlier, US authorities declared a “threat to national security” in connection with Russia’s alleged plans to place nuclear weapons in space. The head of the House Intelligence Committee, Republican Mike Turner, announced on February 14, 2024 that the committee provided members of Congress with information about a serious threat to US national security. At the same time, officials claim that there is no immediate threat to the United States and its allies. Read everything that is known about this in the material TSN.ua.
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