The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the successful testing of an inoperative Russian spacecraft. 

“On November 15, the Russian Ministry of Defense successfully conducted a test, which resulted in the inoperative Russian spacecraft Tselina-D, which had been in orbit since 1982, hit,” the ministry said.

The ministry also stressed that the fragments formed after the defeat of the satellite do not pose a threat to the ISS and satellites.

The Ministry clarified that the fragments were included in the main catalog of the domestic space control system and were immediately taken for escort until they ceased to exist.

"Previously, similar tests in outer space have already been carried out by the United States, China and India," the Defense Ministry recalled.

The head of the department, Sergei Shoigu, drew attention to the fact that the Russian system "jewelry" hit the target as a result of the tests.

“We've really experienced a successful forward-looking system.

It struck the old satellite with jewelry.

The fragments formed do not pose any threat to space activities, ”the minister confirmed.

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We will remind, earlier, the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the testing of anti-satellite systems by Russia allegedly endangers the safety of space research.

According to him, the result of Russia's actions was the appearance of 1.5 thousand noticeable debris in orbit, which poses a threat to space objects and satellites.

“It will also significantly increase the risk to astronauts and the International Space Station, as well as other human activities in space,” Blinken said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, during a joint speech at a press conference with African Union Commission Chairman Musa Faki Makhamat, called the US accusations hypocrisy.

“To say that Russia creates risks for the peaceful uses of outer space is hypocrisy to say the least.

There are no facts, ”the head of the foreign policy department emphasized.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that the event was carried out in strict accordance with international law, including the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, and was not directed against anyone, and the fragments formed as a result of the test do not pose a threat and do not interfere with the functioning of orbital stations, spacecraft and space activities.

"These fragments were included in the main catalog of the domestic space control system and immediately taken for appropriate support until their termination," said Maria Zakharova, spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The Russian defense department also called the statements of the US representatives hypocritical.

They recalled that Moscow for several years has been calling on the United States and other space powers to sign an agreement to prevent the deployment of weapons in space.

“The draft of this agreement has been submitted to the UN.

However, the United States and its allies are blocking its adoption.

Washington openly declares that it does not want to be bound by any obligations in space, ”the Defense Ministry said.

They added that Russia is carrying out planned activities to strengthen its defense capability, which excludes the possibility of sudden damage to the country's security in the space sector and on the ground by foreign means.

At the same time, the Pentagon "is actively developing and without any notification tests in orbit the latest strike-combat weapons of various types, including the latest modifications of unmanned spacecraft X-37," the department stressed.

"The actions of the American side are assessed as a threat and incompatible with the declared goals of the peaceful use of outer space," the Defense Ministry noted.

Konstantin Blokhin, a researcher at the Center for Security Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in a conversation with RT, noted that the American side is annoyed by Russia's successes in space. 

“These tests are an indicator of success, of our effectiveness, especially in such an extremely promising area as space.

The United States once positioned itself as the dominant force in this space, but we are demonstrating new achievements, and this, of course, causes irritation.

Blinken is trying to translate this irritation into another sphere, that Russia is a “threat” not because it achieves success in the field of technology, but because it “litters” outer space, which is important for the entire international community, ”he explained.

In turn, a military expert, retired colonel Viktor Litovkin, explained that the US reaction is connected with the fact that it is the Americans who are "rushing into space with weapons."

“Russia and China are categorically against this, we have repeatedly raised at the UN the issue of banning the placement of weapons in space, the Americans are categorically against it.

Moreover, they are creating various space systems that are designed to deliver a global strike on the earth, ”he said in a conversation with RT.

The expert stressed that the statements of the US Secretary of State are outright hypocrisy.

“Russia does not place weapons in space, we launched a rocket from the ground at an object in space and hit it with jewelry.

By the way, the same tests were carried out by the Americans more than once, by the Chinese and Indians.

It turns out that there is no place for the American advantage on the ground and in space, and this is a blow in the stomach for them, ”said the expert.