Voice of America News reports: “Russia has launched a likely space weapon and deployed it in the same orbit as a U.S. government satellite, the Pentagon said.

‘Russia launched a satellite into low Earth orbit that we assess is likely a counter-space weapon presumably capable of attacking other satellites in low Earth orbit,’ Pentagon spokesman Air Force Major General Pat Ryder told a press briefing late Tuesday.

The Russian ‘counter-space weapon’ launched on May 16 was deployed ‘into the same orbit as a U.S. government satellite,’ he said.

Ryder added that Washington would continue to monitor the situation and was ready to protect its interests.

‘We have a responsibility to be ready to protect and defend the domain, the space domain, and ensure continuous and uninterrupted support to the Joint and Combined Force,’ he said…”