Over the past weekend, the Russian military satellite Cosmos-2612 performed a series of orbital maneuvers that brought it within 100 meters of the ICEYE-X36 satellite. The ICEYE-X36 is a commercial spacecraft operated by the Finnish company ICEYE, which is currently under contract to provide data to the United States and supports Ukrainian military efforts.

According to orbital tracking data, Cosmos-2612 was launched into low Earth orbit in April. In late September, the satellite began altering its trajectory, eventually aligning its orbit with that of the ICEYE-X36. The proximity of the two objects has raised significant concerns among space safety experts and government officials regarding the potential for collision and the broader implications of Russian military movements in space. While the incident highlights the increasing congestion and risks in low Earth orbit, there has been no official statement from Russian authorities regarding the specific purpose of the maneuvers. The event underscores the growing tension surrounding the use of commercial satellite infrastructure for military-related intelligence and surveillance purposes in the ongoing conflict context.