US Military Warns of Russian Nuclear Satellite Threat; Potential 80% Destruction of Global Satellite Network

Gate News message, April 16 — General Stephen Whiting, head of US Space Command, warned that Russia is planning to detonate nuclear weapons in low-Earth orbit, potentially destroying over 80% of satellites circling the planet. Such an attack could incapacitate approximately 10,000 satellites, crippling global military intelligence, internet connectivity, mobile signals, and GPS systems across large regions.

Whiting told The Times that American officials are “very concerned” about Moscow’s space ambitions, noting Russia is already “recklessly” jamming signals in Ukraine in ways affecting civil aviation across Eastern and Southern Europe. NATO intelligence reports indicate Russia is developing “shrapnel cloud” weapons specifically designed to target Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network, which has provided critical communications infrastructure for Ukrainian military operations for four years. Whiting urged increased defense spending, warning that the next major conflict will “likely be a war that starts in space.”