Russian military satellite comes dangerously close to a radar satellite operated by a Finnish-U.S. company that supplies satellite imagery to Ukraine
The Russian military satellite Cosmos 2612 has come very close to ICEYE-X36, a radar satellite operated by the Finnish-American company ICEYE, according to LeoLabs, which monitors activity in space.
Russian military satellite Cosmos 2612 drew dangerously close to a radar satellite operated by ICEYE, a Finnish-American company, according to monitoring service LeoLabs. On October 16, LeoLabs reported that the Russian satellite's approach to ICEYE-X36 appeared intentional. By October 19, the distance between the two had dwindled to just 26 meters, a concern for space experts.
This proximity, just one kilometer apart, is considered critical in orbit. Experts suggest this maneuver could be a demonstration of "noncontact deorbiting through fuel depletion," a new kind of confrontation in space. While some attribute the maneuvers to intelligence gathering or jamming, space lawyer Michelle Hanlon emphasizes these actions are "dangerous" acts of aggression.
Ukraine's military has reportedly utilized ICEYE satellites for defense purposes since 2024, and the two nations signed a cooperation agreement in 2026, increasing Ukraine's access to ICEYE's radar imagery.
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