Russian military satellite comes critically close to an American-Finnish satellite that may transmit data to Ukraine...

A Russian military satellite came critically close to an American-Finnish satellite that may transmit data to Ukraine

The Russian military satellite Kosmos-2612 approached the American-Finnish satellite ICEYE-X36, operated by ICEYE, at a critical distance.

Space popularizer Georgy Trishkin said the distance between the satellites had narrowed to 26 meters. According to him, any approach by satellites to within less than one kilometer is considered critical.

The commercial radar satellite ICEYE-X36 can take images of the Earth’s surface regardless of lighting conditions and in cloudy weather, RBC-Ukraine writes. The data obtained by the satellite are used for reconnaissance, including as part of ICEYE’s cooperation with Ukraine.

Trishkin told The Insider that it cannot be said with certainty whether ICEYE-X36 supplies intelligence data to Ukraine, “but it may well be used for this as well.”

According to him, a direct attack on ICEYE-X36 would be an attack on U.S. Department of Defense property. He stressed that an accidental collision was “unlikely, since both spacecraft are controlled,” but added that “the risks are growing.”

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