The militarization of space is reaching critical levels, with Germany issuing stark warnings about potential Russian orbital nuclear capabilities that could cripple global infrastructure, Politico reported. The threat of an orbital detonation Major General Michael Traut, commander of the Bundeswehr Space Command, warned that at the highest level of escalation, there are suspicions that Russia is working on technology to place a nuclear explosive device directly into orbit.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The consequences of a nuclear detonation in space are vastly different from an Earth-bound strike. Because there is no atmosphere to absorb the radiation, the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and radiation from the blast would sweep across low-Earth orbit unhindered. Traut referenced the infamous 1962 US Starfish Prime test, where a high-altitude nuclear detonation inadvertently destroyed multiple satellites. In today’s populated orbital environment, Traut estimates that a similar blast could disable up to a third of all low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites within weeks or months. This would paralyze modern society by taking down critical systems, including: Global communications and internet; GPS and maritime/aviation navigation; Banking and financial logistics; Military command and control networks. Beyond the radiation damage, an orbital detonation risks triggering the Kessler syndrome – a theoretical scenario where the density of objects in LEO is high enough that collisions between objects could cause a cascade, generating space debris that increases the likelihood of further collisions.