German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has accused Russian satellites of monitoring German space assets. Speaking at a space conference in Berlin, he claimed that both Moscow and Beijing possess technologies capable not only of interfering with satellites but also of disabling them outright, Sky News reported.

Pistorius drew attention to two Russian spacecraft, Luch/Olymp, which he alleged were tracking Intelsat satellites, some of which are used by Germany’s armed forces. He argued that in recent years Russia and China have significantly expanded their space capabilities, including the ability to disrupt satellite operations, blind their sensors, alter orbits, and even physically destroy them.

Sky News recalled earlier incidents involving Russian satellites launched in 2014 and 2023, which were repeatedly accused of «eavesdropping» on foreign systems. In May 2024, French startup Aldoria reported the sudden approach of one such satellite to another on geostationary orbit. A year earlier, U.S.-based Slingshot Aerospace described «unfriendly behavior» after a Russian craft repeatedly halted in close proximity to Western satellites.

Against this backdrop, Pistorius reiterated the need for international talks on offensive space capabilities, arguing that such measures could serve as a form of deterrence.