Germany accuses Russia of ‘shadowing’ satellites
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has accused Russia of “shadowing” communications satellites used by his country’s military while unveiling a €35 billion ($41 billion) five-year investment plan for Berlin’s space program.
Speaking on Thursday at the 3rd German Space Congress, Pistorius warned that Russia and China are able to wage war in space. “They can jam, blind, manipulate, or kinetically disrupt satellites,” he said.
Pistorius claimed the German armed forces have already been targeted by jamming attacks and specifically accused Russian “Luch/Olimp” satellites of shadowing two Intelsat satellites which are used by the German military for communications.
His remarks echoed earlier allegations made by France. In 2018, then-French Defense Minister Florence Parly accused Russia of using a “Luch/Olimp” satellite to try to intercept signals from the French-Italian Athena-Fidus satellite.
Intelsat also condemned maneuvers by the same craft as dangerous after it allegedly approached Intelsat 7 and Intelsat 901 satellites.
Pistorius is a strong supporter of the European Union’s push for the militarization of the economic bloc, which would involve member states borrowing heavily to boost arms production and enlarge standing armies.
Moscow has dismissed claims that the investment is required to counter a Russian threat as fear-driven rhetoric meant to deflect attention from mounting domestic problems within the bloc.
The original Luch-series satellite that was suspected of gathering signal intelligence – also designated Olimp-K – was launched in September 2014; another was boosted into orbit in March 2023.
