Moscow’s Ministry of Defense downplayed the significance of what took place on July 15. According to the Associated Press, the Kremlin claims the event involved “a small space vehicle” that “inspected one of the national satellites from a close distance using special equipment.” They say they did an “inspection” which provided valuable information that was transmitted to Russian ground control.
But the U.S. Space Force disputes this scenario maintaining there was a space weapon test launch.
“The Russian satellite system used to conduct this on-orbit weapons test is the same satellite system that we raised concerns about earlier this year when Russia maneuvered very close to a U.S. satellite.”
US allies are concerned with Russian aggression
Russia’s alleged testing of a weapon that the U.S. says may be aiming to destroy satellites drew universal condemnation.
The U.S. is “ready and committed to deterring aggression and defending the nation, our Allies and vital U.S. interests from hostile acts in space,” General Raymond emphasized.
