Tuesday 23 December 2025 07:38 GMT Bookmark Support Now From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Russia is reportedly developing a new anti-satellite weapon specifically designed to target Elon Musk’s Starlink constellation, according to intelligence findings from two Nato nations. These reports, seen by The Associated Press, indicate the so-called “zone-effect” weapon aims to flood Starlink orbits with hundreds of thousands of high-density pellets. Such a weapon could potentially disable multiple satellites at once, but it also carries the risk of catastrophic collateral damage to other orbiting systems. The alleged objective behind this development is to curb Western space superiority, which has played a crucial role in aiding Ukraine on the battlefield. open image in gallery A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from the Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida (AP) However, analysts who have not reviewed these specific findings express scepticism, questioning whether such a weapon could be deployed without causing uncontrollable chaos in space. This chaos would affect not only Western entities but also companies and countries, including Russia and its ally China, that depend on thousands of orbiting satellites for vital communications, defence, and other essential needs. These significant repercussions, including potential risks to its own space systems, could ultimately deter Moscow from deploying or using such a weapon. open image in gallery A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with Starlink satellites is seen above Lawndale, California after being launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in June 2024 (AFP via Getty) “I don’t buy it. Like, I really don’t,” said Victoria Samson, a space-security specialist at the Secure World Foundation who leads the Colorado-based nongovernmental organisation’s annual study of anti-satellite systems. “I would be very surprised, frankly, if they were to do something like that.” But the commander of the Canadian military’s Space Division, Brigadier General Christopher Horner, said such Russian work cannot be ruled out in light of previous US allegations that Russia also has been pursuing an indiscriminate nuclear, space-based weapon. “I can’t say I’ve been briefed on that type of system. But it’s not implausible,” he said. “If the reporting on the nuclear weapons system is accurate and that they’re willing to develop that and willing to go to that end, well, it wouldn’t strike me as shocking that something just short of that, but equally damaging, is within their wheelhouse of development.” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov didn’t respond to messages from the AP seeking comment. Russia has previously called for United Nations efforts to stop the orbital deployment of weapons, and president Vladimir Putin has said Moscow has no intention of deploying nuclear space weapons. Weapon would have multiple targets The intelligence findings were shown to the AP on condition that the services involved were not identified and the news organisation was not able to independently verify the findings’ conclusions. The US Space Force didn’t respond to questions. The French military’s Space Command said in a statement that it could not comment on the findings but said, “We can inform you that Russia has, in recent years, been multiplying irresponsible, dangerous, and even hostile actions in space.” open image in gallery