WASHINGTON: Russia has launched a likely space weapon and deployed it in the same orbit as a United States government satellite, the Pentagon said.
Pentagon spokesman Air Force Major General Pat Ryder told a press briefing late Tuesday that Russia launched a satellite into low Earth orbit that we assess is likely a counter-space weapon presumably capable of hitting other satellites in low Earth orbit.
He said that the Russian counter-space weapon launched on May 16 was deployed into the same orbit as a United States government satellite, AFP reported.
Ryder added that the US would continue to monitor the situation and was ready to protect its interests.
He said that they had a responsibility to be ready to protect and defend the domain, the space domain, and ensure uninterrupted and continuous support to the Joint and Combined Forces.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment when asked about reports that Russia had launched a space weapon.
Russia Rejects Accusations
Dmitry Peskov told a regular press briefing in Moscow that he could not comment on this in any way. Russia was acting absolutely in accordance with international law, it did not violate anything, and it had repeatedly advocated banning any weapons in space, he added.
He said that unfortunately, these initiatives of Russia were rejected, including by the USA.
Earlier Tuesday, the US accused Russia of seeking to weaponize space after Washington vetoed a Russian non-proliferation motion at the United Nations.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement that they have once again demonstrated that their true priorities in the area of outer space were aimed not at keeping space free from weapons of any kind, but at placing weapons in space and turning it into an arena for military confrontation.
