Russia is actively working on weapons capable of hitting satellites, including the Starlink network, which could become the basis for the “First Space War” with the West, US space security expert Victoria Samson told Forbes. According to her, the Russian Defense Ministry is likely considering equipping the Nudol (PL-19) anti-satellite missiles with nuclear warheads, which would significantly increase their destructive potential. Samson, a recognized authority on space weapons, emphasized that the evidence is not yet conclusive, but the prospect itself is causing serious concern in the United States and among allies. The development of such systems, in her opinion, is aimed at undermining the military and economic superiority of the West, which depends on satellite technology for communications, intelligence and navigation.

The Nudol system, developed by Almaz-Antey, was originally created as part of a missile defense system to protect Moscow, but its capabilities allow it to hit targets in low Earth orbit (up to 2000 km). According to Popular Mechanics, Russia has conducted at least eight tests of the missile since 2015, the most recent of which in December 2020 confirmed its ability to reach orbital altitudes. Samson points out that equipping the Nudol with a nuclear warhead could create an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) capable of disabling entire constellations of satellites, including Starlink, which Ukraine uses for communications and intelligence.

According to The New York Times, in February 2024, the United States reported that Russia was developing a nuclear weapon for space, which caused a strong reaction in Washington. CNN sources specify that this is a satellite with a nuclear device capable of creating a powerful energy wave to destroy satellite networks. This violates the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits the placement of nuclear weapons in orbital space. Russia, however, rejected the accusations, calling them a "malicious fabrication," and President Vladimir Putin said in March 2024 that Moscow does not intend to violate international obligations.