Vladimir Putin could launch an attack on the UK from space bringing down its communications systems and isolating it from the world, reportedly warned the head of the Britain's armed forces.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said that the Russian president has the capabilities for an attack aimed at GPS and communication satellites that could cause mayhem for the West.
The Russian leader has continually threatened Western powers since the start of the conflict in Ukraine in February and indicated he would be prepared to use nuclear weapons to defend Russian sovereignty.
And the situation has been escalated by Russia 's official annexation of four Ukrainian regions meaning he can claim an attack on that land is an attack on Russia - even though the annexation has not been accepted by many of the wider international community.
Sir Tony has put into the spotlight the full array of options that Putin could use against the West from sabotage subs and nuclear missiles to an information war.
While Putin's troops have suffered several humiliating blows during the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, with several occupied areas being liberated, Sir Tony warned not to underestimate Russia's capabilities.
He told the Telegraph : "It has capabilities in space. We saw an example of that at the tail end of last year, when Russia exploded an object in space which created immense debris.
"Russia has nuclear capabilities, Russia has underwater capabilities."
Western countries are also currently investigating several blasts on the Nord Stream pipeline this week.
Although not directly blaming Russia, Sir Tony said: "Russia has the ability to disrupt in other areas in addition to what it’s doing in Ukraine, what it’s doing in energy and what it’s doing in these diplomatic and information battles."
Last year Moscow tested a ground-based missile that blew out a satellite 300 miles above the earth.
Meanwhile, an attack on GPS systems could disrupt sat-nav systems, potentially causing grief for civilians as well as security forces.
Putin may be tempted to attack satellites because it avoids a direct attack on another country's territory and may not be opposed with the kind of international effort seen to his invasion of Ukraine.
But Sir Tony said he was confident the UK would “overcome the pressure” Russia is trying to impose on the West.
Putin announced the annexation of four regions of Ukraine on Friday in the biggest land grab since the Second World War and vowed to defend them by “any means”.
He formally signed papers declaring Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia to be part of Russia after holding sham referendums.
