Russia has been using its diplomatic facilities in Vienna to intercept satellite communications not only across Europe but also in the Middle East and Africa, western security officials and experts have told the Financial Times.
The finding emerged from an analysis of satellite equipment on the rooftops of Russia's largest compound in the Austrian capital, "Hvylya" reports, citing the FT investigation. A group of Vienna-based electronic engineers known as NomenNescio identified four specific satellites being targeted by the Russian dishes: Eutelsat 3B, Eutelsat 10B, SES5, and Rascom QAF1. All four serve communications between Africa and Europe.
Erich Moechel, a spokesperson for NomenNescio, told the FT that most of the dishes on the compound point west - toward geostationary satellites positioned between the prime meridian and the 15th longitude. The receivers mounted on the dishes reveal the exact frequencies being monitored. Russian technicians have also fitted special lenses that allow them to "squint" at signals across a far broader range than standard equipment would permit.
Vienna is "optimally positioned" for such operations, Moechel said. Just over 100 kilometers to the southeast lies Aflenz, one of Europe's main satellite communication ground stations. The Austrian capital also hosts numerous international organizations - UN agencies, the OSCE, the IAEA, and OPEC - all of which maintain their own satellite terminals, creating a dense concentration of interceptable traffic.
The African dimension adds a new layer to the picture of Russian intelligence activity in Vienna. While western officials have long been aware that Russia was targeting European and NATO communications from the city, the interception of Africa-Europe traffic suggests the Kremlin is also using Vienna to support its expanding geopolitical interests on the continent. Russia still maintains roughly 500 diplomatic staff in the city, with up to a third suspected of being intelligence operatives.