The EU has unveiled a new defensive initiative dubbed the “space shield” in response to what officials described as a series of Russian attacks targeting European satellites, Ukrainska Pravda reported on February 4.

Speaking to Ukrainska Pravda on February 4, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the space shield would be a “comprehensive security system” aimed at protecting Europe’s presence in orbit.

“We are launching a space shield in response to increasing attacks on our satellites,” she said, referring to a sharp rise in Russian activity against European space assets.

The initiative comes amid growing concern over the vulnerability of civilian and military satellites used for navigation, communication, surveillance and early warning systems. According to von der Leyen, the space shield will include both “cyber and physical security layers”, and will be developed in cooperation with Nato and private space companies operating under EU jurisdiction.

While Brussels did not publicly detail the nature or number of the alleged Russian attacks, EU diplomatic sources cited by Ukrainska Pravda described a “series of coordinated jamming, blinding and spoofing incidents” affecting satellite operations over Europe and in low-Earth orbit. These incidents reportedly increased in frequency in late 2025 and were attributed by European intelligence to Russian military and dual-use systems.

Europe has been rapidly expanding its space-based weapons and defences. French President Emmanuel Macron recently said that Europe now provides 60% of the satellite intelligence used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in. the war in Ukraine that previously was provided by the US but is being gradually withdrawn as part of the US pull back.

The European Commission said the space shield will be a cornerstone of its upcoming EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence, due to be presented in full later this year. In parallel, a new joint operational command for space is being considered within the EU’s military framework.

“We are facing a new frontier of hybrid warfare,” von der Leyen said. “Attacks in space can paralyse our economies, disrupt transport, and endanger lives. We must act now.”

The announcement follows recent reports by the French and German defence ministries of unexplained anomalies in their respective satellite constellations. Although neither country officially attributed these events to Russia, defence analysts have noted a pattern consistent with known Russian capabilities, including so-called “inspector satellites” that can manoeuvre near other spacecraft and conduct covert operations.

Nato previously warned that “any attack on allied space systems could trigger Article 5,” signalling that space is now firmly within the alliance’s collective defence remit.

In response to the EU’s announcement, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the accusations as “baseless hysteria” and said the West was “militarising space under the false pretext of defence.”

Despite this, the EU appears set to deepen its engagement with commercial satellite operators and space industry players in a bid to harden its orbital defences. Von der Leyen confirmed that European firms such as Airbus, Thales Alenia Space, and OHB would play key roles in the project.

“Europe must be able to detect, attribute and respond to threats in space,” she said. “This is not just about satellites. It is about sovereignty.”