# Russian satellite neared commercial craft supporting Ukraine, raising attack concerns

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/russia-rehearsed-attack-on-satellite-by-sending-spacecraft-to-fly-past-orbiting-tech-used-by-western-governments/
- Published: 2026-11-05T08:39:41+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T08:47:33+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16267551/Russia-attack-satellite-spacecraft-orbiting-tech-Western.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Business, Companies, Europe, Government, Politics, Space, Technology, World

## Key points

- Cosmos 2612 passed close to ICEYE’s X36 satellite.
- Analysts say the manoeuvre may have tested attack capabilities.
- Two Russian satellites are now moving towards ICEYE’s X37.

## Summary

A Russian military satellite came within about a kilometre of a commercial satellite used by Western governments and Ukraine, prompting a US space analyst to say the manoeuvre looked like a possible attack rehearsal. The incident has heightened concern about the vulnerability of commercial satellites, which have become increasingly important to military operations.

Cosmos 2612 approached ICEYE’s X36 satellite over South America in mid-October; some analysts said it came within a few hundred metres or less. The Russian craft later moved about 400 kilometres away, while two related satellites are now heading towards the orbital path of ICEYE’s X37. Moscow has warned that Western commercial satellites supporting Ukraine could be targets, while ICEYE says its radar-imaging network is resilient to disruption.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.