Russian Satellite Stalks US Spacecraft in Unprecedented Close Approach

A Russian military satellite, Kosmos-2612, spent several days maneuvering at close range around a US commercial satellite that supplies images to Ukraine, coming within less than five kilometers. Space-tracking specialists call the approach between the two active, separately owned satellites unprecedented. The Russian craft carried out "a series of deliberate maneuvers" around Iceye-X36 between October 15 and 19, alternating between positions ahead of and behind it.