Russia’s anti-satellite threat tests laws of war in space
WASHINGTON, Oct 28 (Reuters) – A Russian official’s threat this week to “strike” Western satellites aiding Ukraine highlights an untested area of international law, raising concerns among space lawyers and industry executives about the safety of objects in orbit.
“Quasi-civilian infrastructure may be a legitimate target for a retaliatory strike,” senior foreign ministry official Konstantin Vorontsov told the United Nations, reiterating Moscow’s position that Western civilian and commercial satellites helping Ukrainian’s war effort was “an extremely dangerous trend.”
No country has carried out a missile strike against an enemy’s satellite. Such an act during the war in Ukraine could sharply escalate tensions between Russia and the United States.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/russias-anti-satellite-threat-tests-laws-war-space-2022-10-28/
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