The satellite was destroyed in a Russian anti-satellite weapon test on 15 November 2021, resulting in space debris in orbits between 300 and 1,100 km (190 and 680 mi) above Earth.

The Tselina-D took longer to enter service, due to delays with the satellite development and problems with the mass budget.

[23] On 18 January 2022 there was a near miss (separated by only 14.5 metres (48 ft)) between a piece of debris and the Tsinghua Science Satellite.

[28] By 21 December, LeoLabs was tracking around 500 pieces of debris, including several large items that are thought to be the solar panels, antennas and booms from the satellite.

[30] The US State Department accused Russia of having targeted Kosmos 1408 during an anti-satellite weapon test, using a ground-based missile against their own defunct satellite,[18] saying that it was "dangerous and irresponsible".

[16] On 15 November the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, stated that there was no risk to the ISS or other peaceful uses of space.

[16] NASA administrator Bill Nelson stated that: "With its long and storied history in human spaceflight, it is unthinkable that Russia would endanger not only the American and international partner astronauts on the ISS, but also their own cosmonauts."

He added, "Their actions are reckless and dangerous, threatening as well [sic] the Chinese space station and the taikonauts on board.

"[32][13] The Secure World Foundation, a U.S. think tank, called upon the United States, Russia, China, and India to declare unilateral moratoriums on further testing of their anti-satellite weapons.