Debris in orbit varies from millions of millimetre-sized particles to thousands of much larger objects like defunct satellites and rocket parts. As such the damage debris can cause varies from a gradual degradation of satellite parts over time to immediate and total destruction.
Find out about the damage debris can do - including leading to the "Kessler syndrome" - in episode #7 of the ESA-UN space debris podcast with Beatriz Jilete and Markus Woltran.
While you listen, check out the corresponding ESA-UN infographic that illustrates this topic: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2021/03/The_impact_of_space_debris
