Germany’s top defense official has sounded the alarm over a mounting threat in orbit, revealing that Russian satellites are actively tracking German military spacecraft and warning that space is becoming a new front in global power struggles. At the heart of the concern: two Russian Luch-Olymp reconnaissance satellites, which are currently shadowing a pair of Intelsat satellites used by the German armed forces. The announcement, made by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on September 25, 2025, comes amid a flurry of warnings about the growing risks posed by Russia and China’s military activities in space.
“Russia and China have expanded their capabilities for warfare in space rapidly over the past years: They can disrupt satellite operations, blind satellites, manipulate or kinetically destroy them,” Pistorius told attendees at the third German Space Congress in Berlin, according to Reuters. He didn’t mince words about the seriousness of the situation, emphasizing that the presence of hostile satellites so close to German space assets “shows how close we are now to real dangerous situations.”
This revelation is more than just a technical curiosity—it’s a wake-up call for Europe’s security establishment. Pistorius disclosed that, as he was speaking, a staggering 39 Chinese and Russian reconnaissance satellites were flying over Germany and Europe, transmitting their observations in real time. “So be careful what you say,” he quipped, a half-joking but pointed reminder of the new surveillance reality, as reported by the Associated Press.
The two Russian Luch-Olymp satellites aren’t just passing by; they are closely tracking two Intelsat satellites, which—while operated by a private company—are used by the German armed forces and their allies. This behavior, Pistorius argued, is more than provocative. “I would like to have the nature of such behavior explained to me again. This shows how close we are now to real dangerous situations,” he stated, according to UNN. The risk is not merely hypothetical: the German military has already been targeted by jamming attacks, and the proximity of hostile satellites raises the specter of direct interference or even sabotage.
Space, once the domain of scientific exploration and peaceful cooperation, is now being described as critical infrastructure and a potential battlefield. Pistorius warned that satellite networks are the “Achilles heel of modern societies,” noting that whoever attacks them could “paralyze entire nations.” He cited a recent Russian cyberattack on the ViaSat satellite network, which disrupted the operational control of roughly 6,000 wind turbines in Germany—a stark illustration of how space-based systems underpin both economic and defense capabilities.
Europe, Pistorius argued, is lagging behind the United States, Russia, and China in terms of space security and autonomy. For decades, European nations have relied on the U.S. for space security, but shifting American priorities—especially during the Trump administration’s “America First” era—and the rapid growth of the commercial space sector have forced Europe to reconsider its posture. Currently, Europe’s only space base capable of launching rockets and satellites is in French Guiana, with additional reliance on NASA’s Cape Canaveral in Florida, the Associated Press noted. This dependence, officials believe, leaves Europe vulnerable at a time when its adversaries are moving quickly to establish dominance in orbit.
In response, Germany is making a massive investment in its space programs. Pistorius announced a €35 billion (about $41 billion) plan to bolster the country’s space capabilities over the next five years, with funds earmarked for developing a comprehensive military space security architecture. According to Politico, the investment is designed to create offensive and defensive capabilities, improve resilience, and ensure that Germany can protect its interests—and those of its allies—in the increasingly contested domain of space.
“Russia’s behavior, especially in space, poses a fundamental threat to us all. It is a threat that we can no longer ignore,” Pistorius said. He called for swift action—not just within the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces, but across government, the private sector, and through close international cooperation with European and transatlantic partners. The minister stressed the need for a comprehensive approach that combines civilian, economic, and military aspects of space activities, urging industry to actively participate in developing technologies for both the use and protection of space assets.
The German defense minister also underscored the importance of deterrence, suggesting that Germany and its allies must consider developing offensive capabilities in space to counterbalance the growing threat from Russia and China. “We need offensive space capabilities to establish deterrence,” Pistorius declared, according to Politico and Reuters. The idea is not to provoke conflict, but to ensure that any adversary would think twice before attempting to disrupt or destroy critical satellite infrastructure.
The timing of Pistorius’s remarks is significant. His warning comes amid a series of recent Russian aerial incursions into European airspace—three Russian fighter jets entered Estonian airspace, Romania scrambled F-16s to intercept a Russian drone, and Poland tracked several Russian drones entering its airspace. Denmark even shut down airports following drone sightings, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stating she “cannot rule out” Russian involvement, though Moscow has denied any responsibility. Norwegian officials also seized a drone near Oslo’s airport, and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) tracked Russian bombers and fighters in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone. These incidents, while not directly related to the space standoff, highlight a broader pattern of Russian assertiveness and risk-taking across multiple domains.
International reactions have been swift. U.S. officials reiterated their support for NATO allies and condemned Moscow’s incursions. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump commented on the broader conflict in Ukraine, suggesting that with European support, Ukraine could potentially reclaim all its territory, though he also hinted at a reduced U.S. role and called for Europe to take on more responsibility. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk responded by warning that such optimism could signal a shift in burden-sharing, with Europe left to face the brunt of Russian pressure.
Back in Berlin, Pistorius’s message was clear: the era of viewing space as a sanctuary is over. Space systems are now “critical infrastructure,” and the risks posed by adversarial actions in orbit are no longer theoretical. Whether through jamming, cyberattacks, or the shadowing of satellites, the threats are real and immediate. As the German government pushes forward with its multi-billion-euro investment and calls for international cooperation, one thing is certain—space has become the newest, and perhaps most unpredictable, arena in the contest for global security.
With satellites circling overhead and geopolitical tensions rising, Germany’s warning serves as a stark reminder that the next major confrontation may not begin on land or sea, but far above our heads—in the silent, crowded reaches of Earth’s orbit.
