# Russian military satellite maneuvers near ICEYE spacecraft > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/russian-military-satellite-maneuvers-near-iceye-spacecraft > Updated: 2026-10-22T21:12:14.000Z. Sources: 84. Developments: 6. Russian military satellites have engaged in orbital maneuvers that appear to target commercial intelligence assets. In May, four Russian Cosmos satellites (2610 through 2613) adjusted their trajectories to align with the orbital plane of the ICEYE-X36, a radar-imaging satellite operated by the Finnish-American company ICEYE. Subsequent reports indicated that the Russian satellite Cosmos 2612 performed a series of deliberate maneuvers, moving from over 200 miles away to within approximately three miles of the ICEYE-X36 in a single day. Tracking data from LeoLabs confirmed that the Russian spacecraft closed the distance to approximately 1.5 kilometers (roughly 0.9 miles) during these operations. Recent tracking data from LeoLabs and Integrity ISR indicates that Cosmos 2612 has successfully matched the altitude, inclination, and orbital plane of the ICEYE-X36. The proximity between the two objects has reached extreme levels, with some analysts describing the encounter as “bumper-to-bumper” after estimates placed the distance as low as 26 meters. In mid-October, Cosmos 2612 rapidly closed the distance from 350 kilometers to less than 5 kilometers within a single day. During these Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO), the Russian satellite moved ahead of and behind the commercial craft, at times coming within 500 meters. During a United Nations First Committee debate on October 21, United States officials accused Russia of conducting a “deliberately reckless” maneuver, with American representatives estimating the distance as approximately 200 meters. Thomas DiNanno, US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, stated the maneuvers were “consistent with on-orbit weapons operations.” Russia has rejected these allegations, labeling the claims “absurd” and accusing the United States of pursuing its own aggressive military ambitions in space. ## Claims - The distance between Cosmos 2612 and ICEYE-X36 reached approximately 500 meters. (disputed by 14 sources) - The Russian satellite Cosmos 2612 and the ICEYE-X36 satellite reached a minimum distance of 26 meters. (disputed by 5 sources) - The Russian satellite Cosmos 2612 came within approximately 1.5 kilometers (roughly three miles) of the ICEYE-X36 satellite. (disputed by 4 sources) - The distance between the two satellites was approximately 200 meters. (disputed by 3 sources) - ICEYE-X36 is a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite. (corroborated by 21 sources) - ICEYE provides imaging support to the Ukrainian military. (corroborated by 21 sources) - The Russian satellite Cosmos 2612 performed rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) near ICEYE-X36. (corroborated by 18 sources) - On October 15, Cosmos 2612 reduced its distance to ICEYE-X36 from 350 kilometers to less than 5 kilometers. (corroborated by 12 sources) - Cosmos 2612 has begun to move away from ICEYE-X36. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The Russian satellite Cosmos 2612 has made a series of maneuvers to become nearly co-planar with the ICEYE-X36 satellite. (corroborated by 7 sources) - Russia is building a large Over-the-Horizon radar near Gvardeisk. (corroborated by 6 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-22: United States accuses Russia of dangerous satellite maneuver The U.S. has accused Russia of a dangerous maneuver after its Kosmos-2612 satellite approached a commercial satellite used by Ukraine. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/united-states-accuses-russia-of-dangerous-satellite-maneuver ### 2026-10-22: Russian Cosmos 2612 satellite approaches commercial radar satellite Russia's Cosmos 2612 satellite performed maneuvers bringing it within 500 meters of the ICEYE-X36 commercial radar satellite, prompting US warnings of potential on-orbit weapons operations. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/russian-cosmos-2612-satellite-approaches-commercial-radar-satellite ### 2026-10-19: Russian satellite Cosmos 2612 performs close-proximity maneuvers near ICEYE-X36 A Russian military satellite, Cosmos 2612, performed unprecedented unapproved proximity maneuvers near the US-registered ICEYE-X36 radar satellite, which provides intelligence to Ukraine. 36 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/russian-satellite-kosmos-2612-performs-close-approach-to-iceye-spacecraft ### 2026-10-19: Russia expands military capabilities in Kaliningrad and orbital space Russia is expanding its military footprint in Kaliningrad with massive new radar systems and is conducting aggressive orbital maneuvers against commercial satellites supporting Ukraine. 15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/russia-expands-electronic-warfare-capabilities-in-kaliningrad ### 2026-10-17: Cosmos 2612 satellite performs close approach to ICEYE-X36 The Russian military satellite Cosmos 2612 has performed deliberate maneuvers to approach the US-registered ICEYE-X36 radar satellite, which provides critical intelligence to Ukraine, reaching within 26 meters. 25 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/russian-satellite-cosmos-2612-approaches-iceye-spacecraft ### 2026-10-09: Russian military satellites maneuver near ICEYE radar satellite Russian military satellites performed maneuvers near an ICEYE radar satellite in May, prompting warnings from Germany’s Space Command about potential threats to large networks like Starlink. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/russian-military-satellites-maneuver-near-iceye-radar-satellite --- Cite as: Russian military satellite maneuvers near ICEYE spacecraft. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/russian-military-satellite-maneuvers-near-iceye-spacecraft