Russia has warned it can obliterate Nato satellites with its new 'Star Warrior' technology to render the West's GPS-guided missiles useless in the latest provocation in its stand-off with Ukraine.
State TV last night claimed Moscow's anti-satellite (ASAT) missiles could destroy 32 Nato satellites and 'blind all their missiles, planes and ships, not to mention the ground forces.'
The ASAT technology was tested on a defunct Soviet satellite last week, sending shrapnel flying towards the International Space Station (ISS), and provoking outrage from NASA and Washington. This was a warning shot to the West, state TV claimed.
The chilling threat comes as Vladimir Putin has sent more than 94,000 troops to the border with Ukraine, sparking fears of a three-pronged invasion that would dwarf the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
The White House on Monday said it had 'serious concerns' over Moscow's buildup of military hardware along the frontier, including tanks and missile batteries, as well as its sustained threats to Kiev.
'We continue to have serious concerns about Russian military activities and harsh rhetoric toward Ukraine and call on Moscow to deescalate tensions,' said Biden's press Secretary Jen Psaki.
But the Kremlin's SVR foreign intelligence agency accused Washington of whipping up 'hysteria', dismissing claims it had any intention of launching an invasion.
Russian state TV last night claimed its new 'Star Warrior' anti-satellite missile technology could be used to render the West's GPS-guided missiles useless. It warned Moscow could destroy 32 Nato satellites and 'blind all their missiles, planes and ships, not to mention the ground forces
A map shared with Military Times and replicated above shows how Ukrainian intelligence is bracing for a bloody and ferocious invasion that could see swathes of Ukraine captured in an assault which would dwarf the annexation of the Crimea in 2014
Vladimir Putin at a meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow on Monday
'The Americans are painting a frightening picture of hordes of Russian tanks that will start to crush Ukrainian cities, saying they have some 'reliable information' of such Russian intentions,' said the SVR in a rare statement to the Russian press.
Joe Biden was last night considering sending Javelin anti-tank missile launchers and Mi-17 helicopters to Ukraine, as well as military advisers to support its armed forces.
The Javelin anti-tank missiles could prove essential to stopping Russian T-80 tanks that are among the armaments sent by Moscow to forward positions.
Another option is to send Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters that were bought for Afghanistan but now need a new destination.
However, others in the administration fear sending military aid would be seen as a major provocation in Moscow.
Russian state TV last night issued a chilling threat to deploy its new ASAT technology against 32 Western satellites which Nato use for military operations.
Moscow last week tested the missile against a redundant Soviet-era spy satellite, sending thousands of particles of debris into orbit which threatened the safety of the ISS.
Sate-controlled Russian Channel One TV host Dmitry Kiselyov - dubbed Putin's 'mouthpiece' and 'propagandist-in-chief' - claimed the satellite strike was a deliberate warning to the West not to cross the Kremlin's red lines on Ukraine.
In the event of worsening relations, Russia could wipe out 32 GPS satellites crucial for NATO's military operations, including the pinpointing of missile strikes, he said.
Russia has expressed deep concern at British and US military backing for Kiev with troops and equipment including warships.
'We shot down the old Soviet Tselina-D satellite in space orbit,' said Kiselyov.
'That was the completion of tests of Russia's anti-satellite system, the accuracy of which (Defence Minister) Sergei Shoigu called jewellery-like.
'It means that if NATO crosses our red line, it risks losing all 32 of its GPS satellites at once.'
This would 'blind all their missiles, planes and ships, not to mention the ground forces.'
The Nudol - dubbed 'Star Warrior' by Izvestia newspaper - had been tested at least nine times between 2014 and 2020 before its first deployment to destroy an actual satellite on 15 November, according to Moscow-based Centre for Analysis of Strategy and Technologies.
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