NextFin news, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced on Thursday, September 25, 2025, in Berlin that two Russian Luch/Olymp satellites are shadowing two Intelsat satellites used by the German military, including the Bundeswehr. This revelation was made during a space conference and reported by multiple news outlets including Sky News and UNITED24 Media.
Pistorius emphasized that Russia and China have rapidly expanded their space warfare capabilities in recent years, including the ability to disrupt satellite operations, blind satellites, manipulate signals, or even kinetically destroy satellites. He warned that such hostile behavior in orbit is escalating and poses a significant threat to Germany and its allies.
The German defense minister identified the Russian satellites as part of the Luch/Olymp series, which Western operators have previously accused of "loitering" near commercial and government satellites. Such proximity allows for potential signal interception or interference. Observers have documented these satellites performing close approaches and unfriendly maneuvers, including a notable incident in 2024.
Pistorius also disclosed that the German military has already been targeted by jamming attacks and called on allied nations to prepare deterrence measures in space to counter these threats. He highlighted that 39 Chinese and Russian reconnaissance satellites regularly fly over German territory, underscoring the immediacy of space-based surveillance risks.
The warning comes amid broader concerns about the militarization of space and Russia's formal declaration to international regulators that European satellites supporting Ukraine are legitimate targets, escalating GPS and satellite signal jamming campaigns.
Germany is reportedly planning to invest 35 billion euros in security and deterrence capabilities in space, reflecting the seriousness with which it views the emerging threats from Russian and Chinese space activities.
Defense Minister Pistorius's statements underline the growing tension in space as a domain of strategic competition and the need for enhanced space situational awareness and defensive measures to protect critical satellite infrastructure.
Sources: Sky News, UNITED24 Media, n-tv, The Star.
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