A promising anti-satellite system "jewelry" struck the old satellite. This was announced on Tuesday, November 16, by the head of the Russian Defense Ministry, Sergei Shoigu, thereby confirming the successful test by Russia of the anti-satellite system, as a result of which the inactive Russian spacecraft "Tselina-D" was hit.
"We have really successfully tested a promising system. She struck the old satellite with "jewelry"," Shoigu said, answering journalists' questions during a working trip to the troops of the Western Military District in the Voronezh Region.
The Minister also noted that there was no threat to space activities during the testing of the system.
The day before, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that Russia had tested anti-satellite systems. According to him, this contradicts Moscow's statements about the inadmissibility of placing weapons in outer space. Blinken added that by its actions, the Russian Federation allegedly threatens "the long-term sustainability of the space environment and the use of space by all countries."
In turn, the Russian Defense Ministry stressed that they consider such statements hypocritical. The ministry drew attention to the fact that Russia "for a number of years has been calling on the United States and other space powers to sign an agreement on the prevention of the deployment of weapons in space."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday also said there were no facts that Russia allegedly created risks for space activities. The minister accused the United States of actively developing an arms race in space.
