Putin: “No Plans to Deploy Space Nuclear Weapons”
The United States has notified its allies that Russia may deploy nuclear weapons or dummy warheads in space as early as this year. Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed these claims, stating, “We are against the deployment of space nuclear weapons.”
Bloomberg reported on the 20th (local time), citing sources, that Russia is developing the capability to destroy satellites with nuclear weapons from space bases. The placement of nuclear warheads in Earth’s orbit is a violation of the 1967 Space Treaty, which Russia has also signed.
Sources said that, as of now, Russia does not plan to detonate any weapons in orbit. However, the risk of accidents exists, and a nuclear explosion could affect about one-third of satellites, potentially causing significant disruption to ground communication systems.
An expert on space weapons explained, “The impact of an explosion depends on the size of the nuclear warhead. It does not necessarily mean the destruction of satellites, but there is a risk of confusion, such as error correction.”
According to the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs, there were 7,800 satellites in Earth’s orbit as of April last year.
Earlier last week, Mike Turner, a Republican representative of the House Intelligence Committee from Ohio, said, “serious security threat from Russia exists,” without disclosing any specific details. Subsequently, US President Joe Biden expressed the view that Russia is developing anti-satellite space weapons that will not pose a direct threat to human life.
In response, President Putin said, “We have always been firmly opposed to the deployment of space nuclear weapons, and it is the same now. What Russia is doing in space is no different from what other countries, including the United States, are doing.”
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