LeoLabs reported that Russia’s Cosmos 2612 satellite came within about 500 meters of the ICEYE‑X36 satellite between October 15 and October 19, 2026. The firm said the Russian satellite performed a series of deliberate maneuvers that reduced the separation from hundreds of kilometers to a very close range over that period. LeoLabs noted that this reduction raised concerns about a hazardous on‐orbit encounter. LeoLabs said Cosmos 2612 conducted a deliberate series of maneuvers toward ICEYE‐X36, including a controlled approach and matching the target’s orbital plane.
The satellite closed from long range, adjusted its speed and altitude, and repositioned itself ahead of and behind the commercial spacecraft. While in proximity, Cosmos 2612 remained close and made repeated small maneuvers, staying near ICEYE‐X36 for an extended time. LeoLabs described the sequence as demonstrating rendezvous and proximity operation capabilities that could allow inspection, characterization, shadowing or potential interference with another spacecraft.
Between Oct. 15–19, 2026, LeoLabs said Cosmos 2612 continued maneuvering around ICEYE‐X36 and shifted its position to move ahead of and then behind the commercial satellite. Adam Marsh, vice president for technical solutions at LeoLabs, told Breaking Defense that the observed rendezvous and proximity operation was the most advanced and potentially dangerous uncooperative RPO the company had ever seen. Marsh emphasized that the maneuver displayed a level of sophistication and risk not recorded before in uncoordinated satellite approaches.
Victoria Samson said there has never been an uncoordinated rendezvous and proximity operation that came this close, noting that earlier cases involved US‐government satellites. She highlighted that the proximity of the Russian satellite to ICEYE‐X36 is unprecedented because previous close approaches were limited to government assets, making this the first known uncoordinated RPO near a commercial satellite.
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