LeoLabs says Russian military satellite flew in “extreme proximity” to US-operated ICEYE imaging satellite used by Ukraine

LeoLabs says Russia’s Kosmos 2612 conducted deliberate maneuvers toward ICEYE-X36, a US-operated commercial Earth-imaging satellite, closing from hundreds of kilometers away to extreme proximity before maneuvering around it and later moving away. US military officials and independent analysts have tracked Kosmos 2612 since its April Soyuz launch, and LeoLabs says at least four of six satellites from that launch appeared to align with ICEYE-X36’s orbit.

For commercial satellite operators and customers relying on imagery, the reported close approach makes space situational awareness a practical requirement, not just a compliance function. The trade-off is that tracking and maneuver planning can reduce collision or interference risk but may add operational cost and disrupt imaging schedules; the article does not say how close Kosmos 2612 came, whether ICEYE-X36 maneuvered, or whether service was affected.