Russian Military Satellite Comes Within 85 Feet of Ukraine Intel Asset

A Russian military satellite reportedly came within as little as 85 feet of a spacecraft used to support Ukraine’s intelligence efforts, prompting concern over a potential escalation in military activity beyond Earth.

LeoLabs, a US-based space technology company, said Russia’s Kosmos 2612 entered “extreme proximity” to Iceye’s X36 satellite while the two spacecraft were above South America.

Over the weekend, Kosmos 2612 made a series of “small adjustments” that appeared intended to keep it in a close relative position to the Iceye satellite, according to LeoLabs.

RBC-Ukraine reported that the satellites passed within 85 feet of one another, although other estimates placed the separation at approximately 1,640 feet.

LeoLabs said its analysis showed the Russian spacecraft approached to within roughly 500 metres during part of the encounter.

“However, it’s important to note that exact separation estimates carry uncertainty because of the repeated maneuvers and challenging tracking geometry,” the company said.

Kosmos 2612 reportedly moved away again on Monday.

The purpose of the maneuver remains unknown, but the incident has heightened concerns about the use of satellites for military surveillance and potential interference.

The satellite’s movements were “consistent with rendezvous and proximity operations,” CNN reported. Such maneuvers are designed to bring spacecraft close together while in orbit.

“While the intent remains uncertain, the behavior warrants continued monitoring,” LeoLabs said in a statement.

The company said there was no clear evidence of “hostile intent,” but suggested Moscow may have been attempting to “inspect, characterize, shadow, or potentially interfere with another spacecraft.” Such activity could represent intelligence gathering and possibly preparation for future counterspace operations, LeoLabs added.

If confirmed, the encounter could mark the first known instance of two active satellites conducting an unapproved close approach.

Astronomer Jonathan McDowell said new tracking data showed that Kosmos 2612 maneuvered on October 16 and was then maintaining a position within 5 kilometres, 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 said.

Iceye X36 is part of a satellite network that provides Ukraine with intelligence used during its war against Russia.

In January, Iceye signed an agreement with Ukraine’s defence ministry aimed at “significantly” expanding cooperation in space-based intelligence.

The company said the deal would ensure Ukraine’s defence ministry continued receiving a high volume of high-resolution imagery from Iceye’s synthetic aperture radar constellation, giving Ukrainian forces persistent situational awareness on tactical timelines.

An Iceye spokesman said Monday: “We are aware of the situation and tracking it closely. Our constellation architecture is designed for continuity and resilience.”

However, they declined to comment further.

The Iceye is equipped with synthetic aperture radar technology which, according to Nasa, is a type of active data collection where an instrument sends out a pulse of energy and then records the amount of that energy reflected back after it interacts with Earth.

It has been used in a wide range of applications, including studying Antarctic icebergs, tracking the paths of oil spills into sensitive marshes and mapping the wetlands of Alaska. 

The Kosmos 2612 maneuvers is the latest attempt by Russia to close in on Iceye’s satellites, according to experts. 

UK defence think-tank the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) reported earlier this year that, in May, four Russian spacecraft moved in space to align with Iceye-X36.

While LeoLabs said there was possibly no ‘hostile intent’, RUSI said the maneuvers could have been carried out as an intimidation tactic.