00:04Welcome to Euronews fact-checking show The Cube.
00:07Austria has expelled three Russian diplomats after accusing Moscow of using diplomatic cover for espionage activities in Vienna.
00:15The country's foreign minister described the espionage as a security problem for Austria
00:19and what she called an antenna forest at Russia's diplomatic representation.
00:24But what is she referring to?
00:25Researchers say several Russian buildings in the city are fitted with antenna systems
00:30and satellite dishes that could potentially intercept satellite, radio and other communications.
00:36And it's not unusual for embassies to use antenna systems and satellite dishes on their rooftops to communicate with their
00:43governments.
00:44But investigation from the Financial Times in March cited officials and analysts monitoring the installations
00:50who said that the dishes appear to move and reposition frequently.
00:54Analysts say that this is unusual for systems only used for fixed diplomatic communications.
01:00And Austria is not an isolated case.
01:03An investigation by the Dossier Center and several European media outlets
01:07mapped large numbers of antennas and rooftop structures on Russian diplomatic buildings across Europe.
01:14These include unusual container-like rooftop structures seen on Russian diplomatic buildings in Belgium, Spain and Poland.
01:21Former intelligence officials told the Cube that some systems could support espionage activities.
01:28For example, they can intercept radio waves, satellite communications and unencrypted internet traffic.
01:34And Vienna has long been associated with suspected espionage activity.
01:38The Austrian capital hosts major international organizations, including the United Nations,
01:44the International Atomic Energy Agency and the OSCE,
01:48the world's largest regional security organization, which are often the target of undercover work.
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