The Russian Federation continues its tendency to make provocative statements about the international order in space.
As the US continues to use more and more commercial satellites for reconnaissance and communications, Russia has warned there may be “legitimate targets” for wartime operations.
Such statements were made by the Russian delegation at the UN working group meeting on reducing space threats, which took place in Geneva from 12 to 16 September. The purpose of the working group meeting is to discuss ways to reduce threats and expand cooperation in space through the creation and adoption of new norms and principles of responsible behavior.
This statement was made by Konstantin Vorontsov, an employee of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He noted that the Russian delegation saw an extremely dangerous trend that went beyond the harmless use of space technology, especially evident during the war in Ukraine.
According to Vorontsov, the use of space satellites by the United States and its allies during the continued occupation of Ukraine constitutes indirect participation in the war and these satellites could become a legitimate military target for the Russian Federation.
The Russian delegation stated that the use of space satellites for military purposes is in violation of the Outer Space Treaty, which provides for the exclusively peaceful use of space.
Russia’s claims that the satellites could be targeted came after its continued attack on Ukraine.
In addition to Starlink, commercial satellite imagery companies such as Planet, Maxar and BlackSky have provided vital intelligence to Ukraine, which has played a major role in the success of the Ukrainian military.
The Russian delegation also warned the UN against adopting “fragmented, non-inclusive rules for regulating space activities that do not take into account the approaches of all UN member states and aim at achieving space dominance of a small group of countries”.
Instead, Russia argues that UN member states should focus on making a commitment not to place any weapons in space, including orbits around Earth and other celestial bodies.
Focus He has already written that the United States is concerned about testing space weapons in Russia and China, and there are good reasons for that.
Moreover Focus He wrote that Russia refers to the aging ISS as a dangerous and weathered space object. According to the head of Roskosmos, the station is turning into a garbage heap.
Source: Riafan
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