Russia's top arms control diplomat has rejected the United States' claims of Russia launching a weapon into low-Earth orbit capable of inspecting and attacking other satellites and dismissing it as "fake news."

The Kremlin has firmly denied U.S. officials' claims that Moscow is developing a space-based anti-satellite nuclear weapon. The U.S. Space Command has pointed to the launch of a Soyuz rocket from Russia's Plesetsk launch site earlier this month, suggesting it likely involved "a counterspace weapon presumably capable of attacking other satellites in low Earth orbit."

Russia's defence ministry stated that the May 17 launch included a spacecraft on board but did not provide any details regarding its purpose.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying, "I don't think we should respond to any fake news from Washington." Ryabkov emphasised that Moscow's policy remains unchanged despite American claims.

He added, "The Americans can say whatever they want, but our policy does not change from this," noting that Moscow has "always consistently opposed the deployment of strike weapons in low-Earth orbit."

In February, President Vladimir Putin and then-Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu denied U.S. assertions that Russia was developing a space-based anti-satellite nuclear weapon designed to disrupt everything from military communications to phone-based ride services.

According to U.S. Space Command, the May launch, dated as May 16, included COSMOS 2576, a type of Russian military "inspector" spacecraft that U.S. officials have long claimed exhibits reckless space behaviour.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to provide specific comment on the U.S. assertion but stated that Russia acted in full accordance with international law.

"We are not violating anything. We have repeatedly advocated a ban on the deployment of any weapons into space. Unfortunately, our initiatives were rejected, including by the United States," Peskov informed reporters.

According to a U.S. official familiar with the intelligence, U.S. intelligence agencies had anticipated the launch of COSMOS 2576 and informed allies of their assessment of the satellite before its deployment into space. The launch also involved civilian satellites being deployed to different orbits.

Space analysts observed COSMOS 2576 to be in the same orbital ring as USA 314, a bus-sized NRO satellite launched in April 2021, although it has not approached any U.S. satellite.

Ryabkov stated that Russia's space programme is progressing as planned, including tasks aimed at strengthening defence capability, but noted that "this is also not news."

He criticised the United States for dismissing Russian proposals on strengthening the security of space activities, including a proposal to develop a treaty aimed at preventing an arms race in space.

Image source: Reuters