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Russia is preparing a nuclear explosion in space to destroy US and SpaceX satellites, – Forbes

Marta Gichko12:49, 24.07.25

According to experts, such an act of sabotage is beneficial to Russia because it will be impossible to prove its guilt.

Russia is launching a new phase of hybrid warfare — this time in space . The Kremlin is considering launching a “nuclear sabotage” in orbit that could disable satellites from the United States, Europe, and SpaceX, Forbes reports .

“The beauty of this sabotage is that it will be impossible to prove. Moscow will get the satellite destruction and ‘plausible denial’ as a gift,” says space weapons expert Elena Grossfeld of King’s College London.

According to US intelligence, Russia is working on a secret project to place nuclear weapons in space. One option is a nuclear explosion near the Van Allen radiation belt, which would cause a cascade of satellite failures without direct attack.

Grossfeld argues that such a scenario is an orbital version of the attack on Pearl Harbor:

“One explosion and thousands of satellites are out of service. This is a game-changer.”

Starlink in sight

SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, which provide communications for the Ukrainian government, military, and civilians, are particularly vulnerable. Russia has already attacked Starlink terminals on the ground and has repeatedly threatened to shoot down the company’s satellites.

“Moscow is investing in anti-satellite weapons of various types — missiles, lasers, cyberattacks. But a nuclear explosion is the pinnacle of this arsenal,” Grossfeld adds.

NATO has officially confirmed that Russia is organizing acts of sabotage throughout Europe.

“Moscow is trying to destabilize our countries and divide societies,” said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

According to Grossfeld, sabotage has been an integral part of Russian state strategy since the days of Lenin and Stalin. Now the Kremlin is simply projecting it into space.

Despite previous attacks—such as the destruction of Viasat’s ground system before the invasion of Ukraine—NATO has not taken decisive action.

“Neither the US nor NATO has yet responded to these attacks. This only encourages Putin,” Grossfeld believes.

(c)UNIAN 2025

3 comments

  2. “The beauty of this sabotage is that it will be impossible to prove. Moscow will get the satellite destruction and ‘plausible denial’ as a gift,”

    That would work both ways then. NATO could destroy every russian satellite and deny it. This “expert” did not think this through.

    Reply

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