\n
<\/p>\n
PARIS: The shadowing of a Western satellite supporting Ukraine by a cluster of Russian military satellites earlier this year demonstrates capabilities that could threaten commercial constellations such as Elon Musk\u2019s Starlink, Germany\u2019s space commander told Reuters.\n<\/p>\n
In May, Russia maneuvered four military satellites, known as Cosmos 2610 through 2613, close to a commercial radar-imaging satellite, according to the US Space Force. Finland\u2019s ICEYE, which supplies data to the US and its allies, confirmed to Reuters that it was one of their satellites.\n<\/p>\n
Major General Michael Traut, head of German space command, described the Russian spacecraft as \u201cchasing\u201d the ICEYE satellite, which provides battlefield intelligence imagery.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cRussia is demonstrating ways, which, if employed directly toward a mega constellation like Starlink, could have an impact on their lifetime\u201d and \u2060on the quality \u2060of service for all users, not just Ukraine, General Traut told Reuters. He said satellite capabilities could be disrupted even without a direct attack.\n<\/p>\n
That \u201cconcerns me quite a lot,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n
His fears underscore Western militaries\u2019 growing reliance on commercial satellite networks, raising questions about who should protect them. Traut\u2019s comments also come as European officials accuse Russia of escalating sabotage efforts across the region aimed at undermining support for Ukraine, including recent drone and arson attacks and a plot to disable undersea cables.\n<\/p>\n
Russia\u2019s interference in Western space systems \u2060has significantly increased since its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to Western military officials. They say that includes ground-based jamming and on-orbit trailing aimed at gathering intelligence and testing the West\u2019s tolerance.\n<\/p>\n
Russia\u2019s defense ministry did not respond to Reuters\u2019 questions about its satellite activity. Moscow has repeatedly warned that commercial Western satellites helping Ukraine could become legitimate targets for retaliation. It has denied conducting sabotage operations in NATO countries.\n<\/p>\n
SpaceX, which operates Starlink, didn\u2019t respond to a comment request.<\/p>\n
RUSSIAN \u2018GREY-ZONE\u2019 TACTICS\n<\/p>\n
General Traut said an overt attack on a Starlink satellite would mark a major escalation but Moscow could employ \u201cgrey-zone\u201d tactics. He outlined a hypothetical scenario in which a Russian satellite drifted into a Starlink orbital path before breaking apart, forcing satellites to make fuel-consuming avoidance maneuvers that could shorten their operational lives.\n<\/p>\n
Two other Western officials told \u2060Reuters the Russian activity raised \u2060concerns for Starlink, the world\u2019s largest satellite constellation.\n<\/p>\n
Russia hasn\u2019t disclosed the capabilities of the group of Cosmos satellites.\n<\/p>\n
The move into \u201cclose proximity\u201d with ICEYE may have been intended to conduct surveillance, prepare for future interference or signal capability, said Belinda Marchand, chief scientist at US space intelligence firm Slingshot Aerospace.\n<\/p>\n
ICEYE Chief Executive Rafal Modrzewski told Reuters the company later moved its satellite, prompting further Russian maneuvers. The episode showed how satellites can increasingly be maneuvered close to one another \u201ceither to observe or potentially do harm,\u201d he said. The episode emphasizes the need to monitor activity in orbit, Modrzewski said, and raises about the need for protection.\n<\/p>\n
As part of a major spending plan to bolster its own space capabilities, Germany is developing inspector satellites and consideringorbital weapons that could disrupt hostile space activity without destroying the target, Traut said.\n<\/p>\n
Germany\u2019s armed forces have also awarded ICEYE and a German company a contract to build dozens of satellites, particularly to support NATO\u2019s eastern flank.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n