Russian satellite reported a few meters from a US satellite supporting Kiev

A Russian military satellite has been reported in proximity to a European commercial satellite, under contract with the US, which provides support directly to Ukraine.

The maneuvers began at the end of September, when the Russian military satellite Cosmos-2612 suddenly changed its speed to reach the same orbit as the Finnish commercial satellite Iceye-X36. Launched into low orbit from Moscow last April, the Russian satellite then continued its maneuvers, approaching the Finnish one up to an angular distance of one hundredth of a degree, according to what emerged from the data on the trajectories of the two satellites.

Based on the latest findings and expert assessments, on the morning of October 18th the distance between the two satellites was less than one hundred meters. The episode, constantly followed by the scientific community, has raised doubts and questions about the capabilities of the Russian satellite, specifically with regards to interception, communications jamming and espionage in space.

“The combination of several factors made this event particularly concerning,” explained Clayton Swope, a space security expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “The satellite aligned on the same orbital plane, in low Earth orbit,” with the commercial Iceye satellite “providing support to Ukraine,” the expert added. According to Swope, "there is no element to suggest that the Russian satellite needed to carry out such maneuvers for peaceful purposes." Additionally, a spokesperson for Iceye's US branch stressed that they were "aware of the situation" and were "following it closely." Among other things, it has been reported, this is not the first time that Russian satellites have carried out maneuvers to position themselves in the immediate vicinity of satellites of other countries.