NATO worried when discovering giant Russian spy base in Kaliningrad

Satellite images reveal Russia is building a huge intelligence facility in Kaliningrad, an enclave sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania. The facility is considered Moscow's "electronic eye".

On August 22, Newsweek magazine published a series of shocking satellite images: in the middle of the Kaliningrad forest, a giant circle was clearly visible, believed to be a top secret Russian intelligence facility. Researchers from the Tochnyi project warned that this was most likely a high-level military eavesdropping station, capable of intercepting NATO signals and maintaining contact with submarines in the Baltic.

The Tochnyi investigative project, which monitors Russian military infrastructure, said the structure began taking shape in March 2023 and is now nearly complete. The group described it as a circular directional antenna array (CDAA), a type of system widely used by both the US and Russia during the Cold War to pinpoint the source of radio waves.

What is most striking is its size: according to Tochnyi, the antenna array is up to 1.6 km in diameter, far exceeding any known CDAA. This enormous size promises to greatly enhance Russia’s ability to receive and analyze signals in electronic warfare.

Satellite images show a series of excavations at regular intervals around the circle, likely for antenna masts. From the center radiate traces of underground cables, along with checkpoints, perimeter walls, and at least six concentric rings—all the hallmarks of a sensitive military facility.

According to analysts, this facility will help Russia eavesdrop on NATO radio communications and determine the direction of signals from bases, command posts or units deployed in Europe. This is an important capability, because controlling electronic information means knowing the intentions and locations of the enemy's operations.

Not only does it monitor, the system can also connect with Russian submarines operating in the Baltic Sea and even the North Atlantic. Secure, stable communication is a key factor in helping the Russian Navy maintain its strategic nuclear deterrent, especially when facing NATO's dense anti-submarine network.

Kaliningrad is a natural “fortress” of Russia in Europe. From here, Moscow can control part of the Baltic Sea, deploy S-400 and Iskander air defense missiles, and maintain the Baltic fleet.

The new facility shows that Russia is combining its Cold War technological legacy with modern military doctrine. Thanks to digital data processing, CDAA can now become a center for large-scale battlefield signals collection and analysis.

This poses a direct challenge to NATO. The Western military bloc has long relied on its superior information and communications technology to coordinate operations. If transmission lines are constantly monitored or located, the risk of operational secrecy and information security is increased, especially in a crisis situation.

The discovery comes just a week after Trump and Putin met in Alaska, where they discussed Ukraine security but failed to make a breakthrough. While diplomacy remains deadlocked, the Kaliningrad project shows Moscow is still focusing on espionage and electronic warfare.

Observers say the new facility could be a “strategic node” in Russia’s signals intelligence network. It allows Moscow to maintain surveillance deep into NATO territory while also maintaining communications with its naval forces. For NATO, it is a reminder that its eastern flank is being monitored and challenged.

In the future, if this facility becomes fully operational, the electronic balance in Eastern Europe and the Baltics could tilt in Russia’s favor. In an era where information warfare is considered a cutting-edge, a giant “electronic eye and ear” right on NATO’s borders would become a strategic tool, helping the Kremlin maintain its advantage in monitoring and dominating the information space.

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