Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, most of the ever-growing fears about the outbreak of World War 3 have been via a land assault. However, there may be a new frontier on the horizon that few have considered – space.
Vladimir Putin’s regime has formally notified international regulators that it will treat European satellites seen as backing Ukraine’s military as legitimate targets for signal jamming. This means mainly civilian satellites that the regime believes are backing Ukraine could face disruption. Countries supporting Ukraine forfeited the right to protest signal interference, the Moscow Times claimed.
According to a Space Intel Report, Moscow’s Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Ministry made this clear in a submission to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Russia claimed it would avoid disrupting non-military satellite applications, but it will act against those seen as aiding the Ukrainian military by aiding missile targeting or providing intelligence.
Western states have repeatedly accused Russia of jamming GPS and satellite signals in recent years.
In a separate warning, the US has cautioned that a suspected Russian nuclear weapon is capable of obliterating entire satellite networks, such as SpaceX’s vast Starlink internet system used by Ukrainian troops in the war. It is seen as a precursor to a weapon capable of a nuclear blast that could wipe out both military and civilian satellites, supporting activities from financial transactions to weather forecasting.
This nuclear weapon could be deployed to Russia’s massive advantage in the event of a new world war.
A Russian satellite from this programme – secretive Cosmos 2553 – was seen in April “spinning uncontrollably” in orbit. However, it later stabilised, according to some reports. But it was not clear if its functionality was fully restored. The wayward satellite is reported to have a radar function for Russian military intelligence and to have radiation testing capabilities.
While not itself a weapon, Cosmos 2553 is linked to Russia’s development of a nuclear anti-satellite weapon. Moscow has denied developing such a weapon and claimed Cosmos 2553 is for research purposes.