Russian Military Satellite Stalks Ukraine-Linked Spy Satellite in Orbit, Closing In to Just 5 Km

A Russian military satellite has approached within approximately 5 kilometers (3 miles) of a commercial radar satellite operated by ICEYE, a company providing satellite imagery used by Ukraine’s military.

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Tracking data suggests the Russian spacecraft is maintaining its position nearby, potentially marking an unprecedented maneuver involving two active satellites in low Earth orbit.

According to Defence Blog on October 18, Russian satellite Kosmos 2612 adjusted its orbit on October 16 to approach ICEYE-X36, a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite operated by the Finnish-founded company’s US division.

Astrophysicist and independent satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell identified the maneuver using updated orbital data. He said the Russian spacecraft appeared to be maintaining a position within 5 kilometers of ICEYE-X36, although further observations were needed for confirmation.

“New TLEs show that K2612 made a manuever on Oct 16 and is now stationkeeping within 5 km or less of ICEYE X36. To my knowledge this is the first LEO rendezvous of two active satellites where the owner of one of the sats did not give approval,” McDowell wrote on X.

Space surveillance company LeoLabs separately told Axios that the Russian satellite’s movement appeared deliberate, placing Kosmos 2612 approximately three miles from ICEYE-X36 as of October 17. ICEYE declined to .

The company operates radar imaging satellites capable of observing Earth’s surface regardless of cloud cover or daylight conditions. Ukraine has used ICEYE imagery since 2022, including data from a satellite purchased through crowdfunding.

A Ukrainian official confirmed to Axios that the country’s military cooperates with ICEYE but could not establish whether ICEYE-X36 specifically supports Ukrainian operations.

As reported by Defence Blog, Kosmos 2612 was launched in April 2026 aboard a Soyuz-2.1b rocket from Russia’s Plesetsk Cosmodrome alongside five other military satellites.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), five satellites from that launch conducted orbital adjustments in May, bringing them into the same orbital plane as ICEYE-X36.

One reportedly passed within approximately 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) of the commercial satellite on May 26. ICEYE CEO Rafal Modrzewski later told that the company had maneuvered its satellite in response.

Previously, in March 2026, reports revealed that Russia’s Luch-2 military satellite had been shadowing European communications satellites, including Intelsat-39, which is also used by Germany’s Bundeswehr. The spacecraft’s proximity reportedly raised concerns intercepted communications and potential interference with satellite operations.

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