Russia may be developing a space weapon using hidden pellets to disable Starlink satellites, risking massive debris and global space safety.

NATO intelligence sources suspect Russia is developing a space-based anti-satellite weapon targeting Elon Musk’s Starlink network by deploying undetectable pellets into low Earth orbit, potentially disabling hundreds of satellites at once. The so-called "zone-effect" weapon, if used, could create widespread debris, endangering not only Starlink but also the International Space Station, China’s Tiangong space station, and other satellites. Experts describe the tactic as a "weapon of fear" meant to deter Western space dominance without direct conflict, though its indiscriminate nature risks damaging Russia’s own space assets. While the weapon’s existence remains unverified and its feasibility disputed, the potential for catastrophic orbital debris has raised global concerns about the militarization of space.