The article specifically mentions material ablation (vaporizing part of the debris) rather than light pressure as the source of impulse.
If it could vaporize debris that came off of satellites or boosters or what have you, it could vaporize parts of satellites. Possibly at the rate of the metaphorical little bird that sharpens its beak on a mountain. :)
However, to permanently disable them, it seems that more power is required, compared to adding velocity to small orbital debris.