Russia: "We May Shoot Down US Commercial Satellites Intervening in the Ukraine War"

Opposition to Private Space Satellite Companies' Participation in War Expressed at UN General Assembly
Seemingly Targeting Elon Musk's 'SpaceX'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Minwoo Lee] Russia warned that if high-ranking officials use commercial satellites of the United States and its allies in the Ukraine war, they could become targets of Russian attacks.

On the 27th (local time), according to local foreign media including TASS, Konstantin Voronchov, Deputy Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control, made this statement at the 1st Committee meeting of the 77th United Nations General Assembly held at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA.

Deputy Director Voronchov emphasized, "The United States and its allies are using civilian space-based infrastructure, including commercial satellites, in the armed conflict (Ukraine war)," adding, "This is a highly provocative act, and quasi-civilian space-based infrastructure could become targets of Russian retaliatory attacks."

He did not specify any particular commercial satellites. Earlier this month, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, announced that his private space company SpaceX would continue to support the Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russia continued attempts to destroy Ukraine's power grid on the same day. Ukraine's state-owned power company Ukrenergo stated that Russian forces conducted airstrikes on the central region's power grid overnight, warning that additional power supply restrictions might be implemented.

Facing setbacks such as losing occupied territories on the southern and eastern fronts, Russia has recently been attacking key infrastructure including Ukraine's power facilities. This appears to be aimed at making electricity supply and heating difficult for Ukraine ahead of winter.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.