France accuses Russia of espionage in space
Russia tried to intercept data from the French-Italian satellite, which is used by the armies of both countries to ensure communication security, said French Defense Minister Florence Parley and added that Paris considers such a step to be "espionage."
The Russian satellite Olymp-K, part of Russian Luch Satellite Data Relay Network, approached the Athena-Fidus satellite so close that anybody would have thought it was trying to intercept our communication, Reuters quotes Parley as saying.
She said that later the Russian satellite attempted to intercept signals from other satellites.
“Little Star Wars” performed by Russia not only unfriendly, it’s an act of espionage,” the Minister said, adding that the Defense Ministry immediately took measures to prevent access to confidential information.
“Our communication, our military exercises, our life will be in danger every day if we do not react,” Parley said. Paris will complete the development of the strategic security plan in outer space by the end of the year.
The Minister made an announcement a week after French President Emmanuel Macron called on the European Union to “update” the post-Cold War relations with Moscow, despite tensions in relations with the West, including tensions due to accusations of Russia’s interference in foreign elections.