Moscow’s space chief has issued wild threats about deploying Russia’s "Satan-2” hypersonic missile after Vladimir Putin ’s foreign minister was blocked from travelling to Serbia.
Air space was closed by three NATO countries to prevent top diplomat Sergei Lavrov visiting Belgarde.
But the head of the Russian space agency Dmitry Rogozin hit back saying that while Bulgaria, Romania and Montenegro could stop his plane, they would not halt a 208-ton, 15,880mph Sarmat missile - a.k.a Satan-2.
He tweeted: ”Do you know what is so good about Sarmat [ballistic missile]?
“It will not ask for a flying permit from Bulgarian cowards, vindictive Romanians and Montenegrins - who betrayed our joint history.”
The same would apply to the Swedes who are set on joining NATO, he said.
Rogozin’s message brought a hail of abuse aimed at the outspoken space chief along with memes ridiculing him.
“Judging by your army performance, a missile aimed at Bulgaria will fall somewhere by Irkutsk [in Siberia]’, said one response.
Another told him: “Can you please stop typing in Cyrillic … Bulgarian cowards do not want trash like you using their letters. Glory to Ukraine.”
He was also told: “Fed up with your mentions of the past. Why don’t you speak about the future?
“Because there is no future for Russia with guys like you.
“You are at a dead end. You are not Russia. You are mafia, who illegally took power.”
Another critic said: “You write about the beauty of Sarmat that kills people. Are you out of your mind?”
Lavrov had been due in Serbia today on a two day trip.
But Rogozine was backed by TV journalist Alexander Sladkov, who posted: ”All states that refused flight passage to our Sergei Lavrov should have their summer holidays season closed and put onto the stop-list of flights over Russia.”
These rogue states “should be held responsible”, he said.
There were "shameful mutts," said pro-Kremlin journalist Yulia Vityazeva .
But independent journalist Tatyana Felgenhauer called it a “beautiful” move to block Lavrov.
Serbia has close cultural ties with Russia, and has fended off pressure to take sides over Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has not joined western sanctions against Moscow.
