German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that in recent years, Russia and China have been rapidly increasing their capabilities for conducting combat operations in space. According to the minister, both countries "can interfere with, blind, manipulate, or kinetically destroy satellites." The full text of the speech was published on the official website of the German Federal Ministry of Defence.
The minister emphasized that during his speech alone, 39 Chinese and Russian reconnaissance satellites flew over Germany. "The observation results are transmitted in real time."
According to Pistorius, Russian reconnaissance satellites are located "in close proximity to the space systems of the German Armed Forces" and its allies.
Currently, two IntelSat satellites, which are also used by the German Armed Forces, are being tracked by two Russian reconnaissance satellites, "Luch-Olymp".
The Minister of Defense urged the audience to share his concerns about Russia's actions in space.
To be perfectly clear, Russia's behavior, also and especially in space, poses a fundamental threat to all of us. A threat we can no longer ignore.
Russia's activity in space and the North Atlantic has raised concerns from other European countries. In July of this year, the Chief of Staff of the French Armed Forces, Thierry Burkhard, stated that Russian satellites are allegedly used for "espionage."