00:04Welcome to Euronews fact-checking show, The Cube.
00:07Austria ha expelto 3 russians diplomati
00:10after accusing Moscow of using diplomatic cover
00:12for espionage activities in Vienna.
00:15The country's foreign minister described the espionage
00:17as a security problem for Austria
00:19and what she called an antenna forest
00:21at Russia's diplomatic representation.
00:24But what is she referring to?
00:26Researchers say several russian buildings in the city
00:29are fitted with antenna systems and satellite dishes
00:32that could potentially intercept satellite, radio
00:34and other communications.
00:36And it's not unusual for embassies to use antenna systems
00:40and satellite dishes on their rooftops
00:42to communicate with their governments.
00:44But investigation from the Financial Times in March
00:47cited officials and analysts monitoring the installations
00:50who said that the dishes appear to move
00:53and reposition frequently.
00:55Analysts say that this is unusual for systems
00:57only used for fixed diplomatic communications.
01:00And Austria is not an isolated case.
01:03An investigation by the Dossier Center
01:05and several European media outlets
01:07mapped large numbers of antennas and rooftop structures
01:11on russian diplomatic buildings across Europe.
01:14These include unusual container-like rooftop structures
01:17seen on russian diplomatic buildings
01:19in Belgium, Spain and Poland.
01:22Former intelligence officials told The Cube
01:24that some systems could support espionage activities.
01:28For example, they can intercept radio waves,
01:30satellite communications and unencrypted internet traffic.
01:34And Vienna has long been associated
01:36with suspected espionage activity.
01:38The Austrian capital hosts major international organizations,
01:42including the United Nations,
01:44the International Atomic Energy Agency
01:46and the OSCE,
01:48the world's largest regional security organization,
01:51which are often the target of undercover work.
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