Russia’s test Wednesday of an anti-satellite missile is “yet another example that the threats to US and allied space systems are real, serious and growing,” said Gen. John Raymond, commander of US Space Command and chief of US Space Force Operations. Indeed.

The test of the missile to take out satellites in low Earth orbit is also, as Raymond put it, “further proof of Russia’s hypocritical advocacy of outer-space-arms-control proposals designed to restrict the capabilities of the United States while clearly having no intention of halting their counterspace weapons programs.”

It’s also a sign of Moscow’s drive to militarize space — and challenge the United States in the process, since a growing part of the US economy as well as its military depend on space-based tech.

This follows news in February that two Russian satellites were shadowing a US spy satellite in orbit, yet another demonstration of the Kremlin’s growing off-earth capabilities, as well as a provocation.

Plus: Taking out even one of your own nation’s satellites puts hundreds of bits of debris in orbit, garbage that threatens all satellites, military and commercial.

All in all, it’s another sign of Vladimir Putin’s contempt for civilized norms, and the civilized world.