Russian satellite shadows US imaging satellite aiding Ukraine, closes to 200m

Kosmos-2612 conducted multi-day approach maneuvers around ICEYE-X36, a commercial SAR satellite providing imagery to Ukraine, coming within 200 meters. This is a first publicly documented close approach by a Russian inspection satellite to a commercial asset supporting Ukraine, signaling potential counterspace tactics. Intent remains unclear—surveillance, jamming, or kinetic threat—and researchers are analyzing the risk.