A Russian satellite’s recent movements near an American-owned imaging spacecraft are drawing scrutiny from space-security specialists, amid broader concerns about Moscow’s ability to threaten Western assets in orbit.

The spacecraft involved is ICEYE-X36, part of a commercial satellite network whose capabilities have been used by Ukraine. Tracking data reviewed by space-monitoring company LeoLabs showed that Russia’s Cosmos 2612 moved to within roughly three miles of the American-owned satellite on Friday. The two had been more than 200 miles apart the previous day.

LeoLabs said the maneuver “appears to be a deliberate approach toward” ICEYE-X36. The company noted that such close encounters are unusual in low Earth orbit, where satellites can travel at approximately 17,000 miles per hour. It cautioned that the purpose of the Russian satellite’s movement remains unknown.

Neither the U.S. Defense Department nor representatives of Finnish-founded ICEYE provided comment when contacted by Axios.

Ukraine connection remains unclear

Ukraine’s military has a working relationship with ICEYE, a Ukrainian official told Axios, although the official could not establish whether this particular satellite directly supports Ukrainian operations.

In January, ICEYE announced an agreement with “a customer within the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine” intended to “expand their cooperation in space-based intelligence” through its satellite constellation.

The Ukrainian official said the military had not been aware of the latest movements but had been briefed on similar activity during the spring and summer.

Commercial tracking data also recorded Russian satellites operating near ICEYE-X36 in May. The U.S. Space Force has previously identified Cosmos satellites as having approached a “Western commercial radar satellite used by Ukraine for imagery intelligence.”

Washington has repeatedly expressed concern about Russia’s development of anti-satellite capabilities, which could threaten spacecraft relied upon for intelligence and other strategic purposes.

Orbital maneuvers raise safety concerns

Experts say the apparent adjustments to Cosmos 2612’s trajectory deserve attention because changing altitude, speed and orbital positioning requires fuel and deliberate maneuvering.

Clayton Swope, a senior space fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, described the Friday separation between the spacecraft as essentially “bumper-to-bumper.”

Greg Gillinger, a space analyst with Integrity ISR, told Axios: “This is all unusual, and it just points to a purposeful engagement between Russia and a Western-run satellite that’s supporting Ukraine,”

The proximity also raises questions about collision risks. Aaron Brynildson, a space law professor at the University of Mississippi, said there is no firm international rule specifying a minimum separation between satellites, although operators generally avoid approaches closer than about six miles.

Brynildson warned that simultaneous movements by two spacecraft at such close range could substantially increase the possibility of a collision.

A wider space-security concern

The episode comes amid continuing concerns about the vulnerability of satellite infrastructure used in modern warfare. The specific purpose of Cosmos 2612’s approach has not been established, and the available information does not confirm that Russia attempted to damage or disable ICEYE-X36.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is also dealing with restrictions affecting a separate satellite communications system owned by Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX, according to a related Axios report.

Reporting by Axios included contributions from Barak Ravid.