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A top Russian official involved in the country’s space program has dismissed a US claim of Russia launching a weapon into low-Earth orbit capable of attacking other satellites as “fake news.”

When asked by Interfax for comment, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said, “I don’t think we should respond to any fake news from Washington. The Americans can say whatever they want but our policy does not change from this.” He added that Russia has “always consistently opposed the deployment of strike weapons in low-Earth orbit.”

 This comes after US Space Command revealed a recent launch of a Soyuz rocket from Russia’s Plesetsk site “likely” carried a counterspace weapon capable of targeting satellites in low-Earth orbit. Russia’s defense ministry has confirmed the May 17 launch and said it was a spacecraft but withheld details about its purpose.  

In February, President Vladimir Putin and then-Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu refuted US assertions that Russia was developing a space-based anti-satellite nuclear weapon intended to disrupt various services, including military communications. 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment directly on the US accusations but stated that Russia adheres to international law. “We are not violating anything; We have repeatedly advocated a ban on the deployment of any weapons into space. Unfortunately, our initiatives were rejected, including by the United States.”