A Russian government-owned satellite spent days maneuvering around a U.S.-operated commercial radar-imaging satellite believed to support Ukraine, coming as close as 500 meters (about a third of a mile) in what experts describe as an unprecedented operation in orbit, according to space-tracking firm LeoLabs.
The Russian spacecraft, Cosmos 2612, carried out “a deliberate series of maneuvers toward ICEYE-X36” between Oct. 15 and 19, LeoLabs said, shifting between positions ahead of and behind the commercial satellite, Breaking Defense reported. The intent remains unclear.
What LeoLabs saw
Cosmos 2612 departed on a controlled trajectory, matched the orbital plane of ICEYE-X36, closed from long range in a controlled manner, adjusted speed and altitude to manage relative motion, repositioned ahead of and behind its target and made repeated small maneuvers rather than flying past. LeoLabs said the sequence demonstrated capabilities that could be used to inspect, characterize, shadow or potentially interfere with another spacecraft.
"Usually these events don’t just end on one."
— LeoLabs (@LeoLabs_Space) October 20, 2026
COSMOS 2612 has drifted away from ICEYE-X36 since October 18. However, it's possible that the spacecraft will resume its RPO activity — or another one will.
That's why persistent monitoring matters.https://t.co/9kTWyrOQqN
According to astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, the Russian satellite spent two days within less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) of ICEYE-X36 before moving out to about 62 miles (100 kilometers). Marco Langbroek, a satellite tracker at Delft University of Technology, said the maneuvers were “clearly designed” to bring the two satellites close and synchronize their orbital periods, altitude and eccentricity.
Why experts call it a first
Adam Marsh, LeoLabs’ vice president for technical solutions, called it a first-of-its-kind rendezvous and proximity operation and “the most advanced and potentially dangerous uncooperative RPO we’ve observed.” Victoria Samson of Secure World Foundation said she knows of no earlier uncoordinated close approach, and that earlier cases involved U.S. government satellites, not commercial ones. McDowell said it appeared to be the first rendezvous in low Earth orbit between two active satellites where one owner did not give approval.
Russia has stalked satellites before. Cosmos 2558 entered the same orbital plane as the U.S. military satellite USA 326 in 2022, and Cosmos 2588 launched in 2025 near USA 338, Gizmodo noted.
A U.S. satellite tied to Ukraine
ICEYE-X36 is a synthetic aperture radar satellite operated by ICEYE US and launched from the United States in 2024, which Samson said makes it a U.S. satellite, or at least one for which the U.S. is the launching state. Finland-based ICEYE announced a 2022 agreement to provide radar imagery to Ukraine but has never named the satellite or confirmed the customer for ICEYE-X36.
Cosmos 2612 launched April 16 from northern Russia as one of six military satellites, and U.S. military officials have tracked the group since four of them adjusted their orbits to align with ICEYE’s spacecraft, Gizmodo reported. Langbroek said the stalking began Sept. 30.
Policy questions
Clayton Swope of the Center for Strategic and International Studies wrote that policymakers should assume Cosmos 2612 could take an action that threatens the satellite. Russian counterspace activity near Western satellites, he said, should be viewed alongside broader gray-zone actions against U.S. and European interests. Samson wondered why the U.S. government has stayed silent, noting that Russia and the United States aren’t at war.