According to confidential sources, the site’s primary mission is to monitor satellites and communications of NATO countries, aiming to undermine their intelligence operations.
Documents obtained by the Estonian news service indicate that the base in Pioniersk, Królewiec region, is part of Russia’s strategic “Tobol” electronic warfare network. This system comprises several surveillance, defence, and command installations designed both to protect Russian satellite communications and navigation from NATO attacks and to disrupt NATO intelligence efforts.
The Królewiec facility, focused on satellite monitoring, was officially established in 2009 by the Russian Ministry of Defence. Other parts of the network are located across Russia, including near Moscow, Penza, Cheboksary, and Ulan-Ude in Siberia.
Russia disrupting Starlink and satellite navigation across the Baltic region
The interference targets multiple satellite positioning systems such as GPS, Galileo, and Glonass, as well as satellite telecommunications like Starlink.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, neighbouring countries have reported increased problems with aviation and maritime navigation, including altered flight paths and warnings in the Gulf of Finland following disruptions reported by ship crews.
In July, Estonian authorities detected new jamming equipment near the country’s eastern border by Narva and along the Narew Gulf coast. Experts suggest these measures aim to protect Russian sites from Ukrainian drone attacks.
Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat notes that Russia has been developing navigation jamming technology since the 1980s, initially in response to Western GPS-guided weapons, with capabilities now expanded in reaction to NATO-supplied Ukrainian military equipment.
Source: PAP/TVN24/delfi.ee/Ilta-Sanomat/is.fi
(mp)