Technology

Russian satellite reportedly came within about 500 meters of U.S.-owned satellite

LeoLabs put the closest approach near 500 meters but called that estimate uncertain, and no official explanation has been given.

Updated Oct 20, 2026 · 14:15 UTC2 reports

The short version

A Russian military satellite, Cosmos 2612, reportedly came within about 500 meters of ICEYE-X36, a U.S.-registered radar satellite.[Al Jazeera]
Some estimates put the closest distance within 30 meters, while LeoLabs called its own 500-meter estimate uncertain.[Al Jazeera · Scientific American]
ICEYE's chief executive said the company's own satellite move appeared to prompt further Russian maneuvers, and no official explanation has emerged.[Al Jazeera · Scientific American]

Russian military satellite Cosmos 2612 reportedly maneuvered within about 500 meters of ICEYE-X36, according to LeoLabs.[Al Jazeera]
Public orbital tracking data show the satellites were at most a few hundred meters apart, with some estimates within 30 meters.[Scientific American]
ICEYE-X36 is owned by ICEYE's U.S. subsidiary and registered as a U.S. satellite.[Al Jazeera]
ICEYE has supplied radar imagery to Ukraine since 2022, according to Defence News.[Al Jazeera]
Mark Hilborne of King's College London said this is the first time a country has carried out such a maneuver against a commercial satellite without consent.[Al Jazeera]
No explanatory or corroborating statements have come from Russian or U.S. defense officials or from ICEYE.[Scientific American]

Distance estimates differ: LeoLabs put the approach near 500 meters and called that uncertain, while some estimates place it within 30 meters.[Al Jazeera · Scientific American]
The purpose of the maneuver is unknown; the link to Russian displeasure with Ukraine's radar use is the outlet's inference, not a confirmed motive.[Scientific American]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.