Russia's destruction of satellites in orbit would also harm its own spacecraft – space law expert

Anna Hurova, who holds a PhD in law specializing in space law and is a postdoctoral researcher at the Chair of Space Studies (Chaire Espace) at the École normale supérieure (ENS–PSL) in Paris, said this in an interview with Ukrinform. "The principle of proportionality applies in humanitarian law. Even if they call a satellite a legitimate target, destroying it could cause disproportionate harm to other countries. The technical aspect must also be considered: the debris would threaten other satellites, and their owners could respond economically, politically, or in other ways," Hurova explained, commenting on Moscow's threats against Western commercial satellites that help Ukraine.