Russia uses Vienna as its largest Western spy hub, monitoring NATO and other sensitive communications via diplomatic sites and satellite dishes.Western intelligence reports that Russia has transformed Vienna into its largest Western spy hub, steadily expanding surveillance over the past two years. Using diplomatic compounds and rooftop satellite clusters, Russia monitors sensitive communications across NATO, the Middle East, and Africa, reviving a major Cold War-era signals intelligence operation, according to the Financial Times.“This is one of our main concerns,” a senior European diplomat in Vienna told the Financial Times. “They are targeting NATO government and military communications… Vienna is their hub in Europe.”Western intelligence reports Russia steadily expanding surveillance in Vienna, with moving antennas and rooftop dishes actively tracking satellites, even adjusting them around major events like the Munich Security Conference.At Vienna’s “Russencity,” a nine-acre Russian compound, satellite dishes track Europe-Africa communications via geostationary satellites, with movable lenses enhancing signal capture. The complex includes residences, a school, and Russia’s UN mission, revealing advanced espionage capabilities.The most expensive piece of the Cold War that never ended is a building in central Vienna, and it's still on the clock. Russia's "Russencity" compound in Vienna, a nine-acre complex on the Danube, has SIGINT satellite dishes on its rooftops that face West. They reposition… pic.twitter.com/EITk29aaHm— Lukasz Olejnik (@lukOlejnik) March 17, 2026“Russencity” houses residences, a school, and the UN mission, topped with satellite dishes mainly pointing west to 18 geostationary satellites. Researchers identified four in use (Eutelsat 3B, 10B, SES-5, and Rascom QAF1) for Europe-Africa communications, with movable lenses allowing wider satellite coverage. Russencity is just one site; others include the embassy, cultural center, a former sanatorium, and upgraded apartments with rooftop equipment. Dating to 1983 under KGB chief Yuri Andropov, the complex was likely built for intelligence work, and Vienna has become a hub for Russian espionage in Europe.Russia has around 500 diplomats in Vienna, with up to a third likely covert spies; Austria warns that Russian SIGINT stations present a serious security risk.Austria’s intelligence warns Russian surveillance poses a major risk, but the law limits action to espionage targeting Austria, so authorities avoid expulsions to prevent Moscow retaliation.“Austria’s intelligence agency (DSN) has warned that Russia’s surveillance capabilities in Vienna pose a “significant security risk.”” concludes Kyiv Post. “But Austrian law limits action – espionage is only prosecutable if it targets Austria directly. Authorities have identified individuals running the operations but have avoided expulsions, fearing retaliation from Moscow.”Follow me on Twitter: @securityaffairs and Facebook and MastodonPierluigi Paganini(SecurityAffairs – hacking, NATO)