Russia may be developing a new anti-satellite weapon that uses destructive orbiting clouds of shrapnel to target Starlink. The Elon Musk-led company has emerged as a key military ally for war-torn Ukraine — providing critical support for troops, and sustaining government functions, hospitals as Russian strikes damaged infrastructure. Intelligence services within NATO member countries warn that the plan also poses a risk of catastrophic collateral damage for other orbiting systems.
According to intelligence findings seen by The Associated Press, the “zone-effect” weapon would seek to flood Starlink orbits with hundreds of thousands of high-density pellets. The publication also quoted analysts (who have not seen the findings) to opine that such a weapon would likely cause ‘uncontrollable chaos’ in space. It is pertinent to note that damage cannot be isolated in case of such an attack — potentially affecting Russia and its ally China which rely on thousands of orbiting satellites for communications, defense and other vital needs.
Will Russia deploy such a weapon?
Experts have cited the potential fallout for space systems operated by Moscow as a deterrent from deploying such a weapon. But officials warn that the possibility cannot be ruled out completely — especially in light of previous US allegations that Russia 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. 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,” the commander of the Canadian military’s Space Division, Brig. Gen. Christopher Horner told Reuters.
Is Musk helping Ukraine?
The billionaire businessman has been vocal in his support for Starlink operations in Ukraine — insisting that it would never be used as a bargaining chip. Musk had previously ordered the shutdown of Starlink satellite services after Ukraine retook territory from Russia in September 2022.
“To be extremely clear, no matter how much I disagree with the Ukraine policy, Starlink will never turn off its terminals. We would never do such a thing or use it as a bargaining chip,” he had insisted in March 2025.
Ukrainian troops had faced a sudden communications blackout after Musk reportedly told engineers to cut coverage for multiple areas in September 2022. Details shared by Reuters in July 2025 revealed that soldiers had subsequently failed to surround a Russian position in Beryslav — panicking as drones surveilling Russian forces went dark, and long-range artillery units that relied on Starlink to aim their fire struggled to hit targets.