Russian official discusses satellite warfare at international space conference in Sydney

A senior official from a Moscow based global satellite organisation has flown to Australia to discuss the “threat and use of force” in space, angering the local Ukrainian community which is demanding to know why she was granted a visa.

Elina Morozova, executive director of Intersputnik, is among several Russian Federation representatives to attend this week’s International Astronautical Congress being held in Sydney.

Intersputnik was founded by the Soviet Union in 1971 to develop satellite-based communications and is today primarily focussed on commercial operations, although its work does have some dual military application.

On Tuesday Ms Morozova presented research on “the use of radio frequencies and satellite orbits for military purposes from the International Telecommunication Union perspective: current status, pressing issues and prospects for solutions”.

Ms Morozova’s speech was delivered during a session dedicated to analysing the “legal aspects of the threat and use of force in the context of space activities involving rendezvous and proximity operations”.

International speakers at the symposium discussed anti-satellite weapon tests in the context of the Outer Space Treaty, and the use of large constellations in armed conflicts.

In 2021 Australia joined other nations in condemning Russia for conducting a “provocative and dangerous” anti-satellite weapon test that produced over 1500 pieces of debris that threatened other satellites and the International Space Station.

Numerous recent reports including a study published by the RAND Corporation in the United States in May have highlighted how “space-based services and the disruption of these services have played an unprecedented role in the ongoing war in Ukraine”.

The Nightly understands several other Russian delegates who had been scheduled to participate at this week’s astronautical congress were denied entry into Australia because of possible links to military programs as the war in Ukraine continues.

Since President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, the Australian government has slapped over 1600 sanctions on Moscow, including entry bans for numerous high profile Russian figures.

“Frankly, as a community, we are appalled that delegates from Russian science and research institutions have been allowed to enter Australia,” says Kateryna Argyrou, the Chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations.

“These are not neutral academics — their research underpins Russia’s weapons systems, which are killing Ukrainians every day.”

“It is a double standard for the Government to claim it ‘stands with Ukraine’ while offering a platform for information exchange and legitimacy to enablers of Russian war crimes,” Ms Argyrou told The Nightly.

“We must not forget that every representative of the Russian Federation is a representative of a genocidal regime.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed Intersputnik and its employees are not subject to Australian sanctions, but a spokesperson referred all questions on entry screening to the Australian Border Force.

The ABF has declined say if any Russian delegates to the congress had their visa applications rejected, but a spokesperson said all non-citizens wishing to enter Australia must satisfy strict identity, character, health and security requirements.

Shadow Foreign Minister Michaelia Cash has demanded the Albanese Government “come clean”, by revealing “what checks were done, what risks were assessed, and was this visit consistent with our sanctions on Russia?”

Back in 2015 several members of Russia’s Space Agency - Roscosmos - were denied visas to Australia to attend an international satellite conference on the Gold Coast in a move which Moscow at the time declared an “unfriendly act”.

During this week’s congress the Australian Space Agency and NASA also signed a new Space Framework Agreement to strengthen collaboration in aeronautics and space exploration with the United States.

“Australia is an important and longtime space partner, from Apollo to Artemis, and this agreement depends on that partnership,” NASA’s Acting Administrator Sean Duffy said after signing the deal with ASA Head Enrico Palermo.

The Nightly has also approached the International Astronautical Congress for comment on the Russian participation in this week’s event.