European security experts reported on February 4, 2026, that Russian spacecraft Luch-1 and Luch-2 intercepted messages from over a dozen key European satellites, raising risks of data compromise, satellite manipulation, or collisions. The Luch spacecraft stayed near geostationary satellites for extended periods, intercepting command channels between satellites and ground stations, conducting electronic reconnaissance as noted by German Armed Forces Space Command officials. Since 2023, Luch-2 approached 17 European satellites, while Russia also launched Kosmos-2589 and Kosmos-2590 with similar maneuvering capabilities. On January 30, 2026, Luch-1 fragmented due to a technical malfunction. Analysts warn intercepted data could allow Russia to send false commands to satellites, alter trajectories, or disable systems without jamming or destroying them. Experts urge Europe to improve satellite network security with encryption, monitoring, and suspicious spacecraft detection. This espionage is part of Russia’s hybrid operations including attacks on underwater infrastructure and power cables. The article also references SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s preventative measures against Russian use of Starlink satellite internet.
Category: Intelligence & Espionage
Subcategory: Signals/Technical Intelligence (SIGINT/TECHINT)
Incident Type: Electronic surveillance
Country: Ukraine
Source report: theukrainianreview.info/russian-s…
