Putin red-faced as 'plot' to launch nuclear weapon into space doomed - Pentagon insider

A Russian plot to move nuclear weapons to space is an “empty threat” as Moscow “purely doesn’t have the resources”, a former Pentagon insider has told Daily Express US.

This week, lawmakers in US Congress warned of a new “national security threat” concerning an alleged Russian plot to move warheads from its terrifying nuclear arsenal into space.

But according to former intelligence officer Matt Shoemaker, Washington does not need to panic.

He told Daily Express US: “There’s almost certainly no way the Russians would be able to put nuclear weapons in space purely because they don’t have the resources to do so.”

Mr Shoemaker believes it was simply meant to be a sensational report by the Russian government to frighten western countries into standing down from assisting Ukraine.

Putin and a space weapon

He added: “There’s very little return on investment to justify the massive costs of stationing nuclear weapons in space – particularly because they can largely already achieve similar results with its current nuclear forces.

“Silo-based nuclear weapons only take about 25 to 30 minutes to reach their targets and submarine-launched missiles only take five to 10 minutes.”

The Kremlin issued a similar threat around three years ago, when it claimed it was going to build the world’s largest aircraft carrier despite its costs estimated at the entire annual Russian ministry of defence budget, Shoemaker explained.

He went on: “I expect they think they can achieve the same sort of emotional reaction in Western governments that the Soviets did when they launched Sputnik in 1957.”

It comes after White House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner made the information about the potential space threat available for Congress to review. He also called on Joe Biden to declassify “all information” relating to it.

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US intelligence has suggested the plans were for a Russian anti-satellite weapon, and that Russia’s nukes would not be aiming at the Earth.

White House sources, who were not authorised to comment publicly, said their capability is not yet operational.

At a press conference on Wednesday, the White House’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that – before Turner’s request – a classified meeting with congressional leadership had already been scheduled for today (Thursday, February 15).

Sullivan refused to confirm whether or not the meeting would discuss the reported threat – or divulge further details about it.

Sean McFate, a Syracuse University professor and author of The New Rules of War: How America Can Win–Against Russia, China, and Other Threats, said this should act as a “reminder of how challenging it can be to maintain confidentiality among members of Congress.”

He added: “I hope the Congress member in question doesn’t wrongly use sensitive US sources and methods.

“They take years to develop and could all be wasted by a single thoughtless statement.”

Kremlin mouthpieces have since come out and labelled the allegation a “malicious fabrication” by the White House – and that it is motivated by a desire to make US lawmakers approve more aid for Ukraine.

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