Russia ceased to receive data from satellites of Western countries - The Moscow Times
Illustrative photo: Russia stopped receiving satellite data from Western countries (Getty Images)
After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Western countries have practically cut off Russia from meteorological satellite data, reports The Moscow Times.
Particularly, the head of Roshydromet, Igor Shumakov, complained that meteorologists have stopped receiving a "significant amount of operational information" from EUMETSAT. This international organization, with 30 member countries, operates satellites in geostationary and polar orbits.
It is worth noting that EUMETSAT suspended Russia's membership shortly after the invasion of Ukraine. However, certain organizations, including the United Kingdom and the United States, continued to share data with Russian experts.
The information shared with the Russians was supposedly necessary for "forecasting activities," however, the flow of information from Western satellites has practically run dry, according to Shumakov.
Threat of launching nuclear weapons into orbit
On February 14th, Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Mike Turner, declared a serious threat to US national security, stating that according to intelligence, Russia plans to deploy nuclear weapons in space.
National Security Advisor to the US President, Jake Sullivan, confirmed this information, and President Joe Biden instructed his administration to engage in negotiations with Russia regarding the possible testing of nuclear weapons in space.
Later reports indicated that the White House sought to conduct secret talks with Russia to persuade the Kremlin to refrain from testing space-based nuclear weapons.
