MOSCOW, April 12 (UPI) -- A Russian official claimed the country detected a network of \"enemy\" spy satellites disguised as space junk during a film televised Sunday. <\/p>\n
Russian Aerospace Defense Commander Maj. Gen. Oleg Maidanovich made the remarks during the 40-minute, state-produced film Space Special Forces shown on the defense ministry channel Zvezda. <\/p>\n
\"Very recently, specialists of the department of space intelligence center uncovered a newly created group of space satellites... made for radio-technical reconnaissance of equipment on Russian territory,\" Maidanovich said. He declined to say who the satellites belonged to, stating \"there is currently no necessity to do so.\" <\/p>\n
The film was released to commemorate the space flight of cosmonaut Yury Gagarin on April 12, 1961. <\/p>\n
Although tensions between Russia and the West have been escalating recently, outer space cooperation, including for the International Space Station, has continued. <\/p>\n
The film's narrator described the spy satellites as being turned off for a certain time and then awaking when needed. <\/p>\n
\"One talks of peaceful satellites, but there are known cases when groups of potential enemy satellites formed against our satellites, above our territory... There are cases when a space satellite pretends to be space junk for years and then wakes up and starts working at the right moment.\" <\/p>\n
Maidanovich said that when spy satellites are discovered, his division reports it to Russian leadership for decisions to be made at international levels. <\/p>\n
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Russian official claims 'enemy' spy satellite network discovered<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" MOSCOW, April 12 (UPI) -- A Russian official claimed the country detected a network of \"enemy\" spy satellites disguised as space junk during a film televised Sunday. Continue reading