Four Russian military satellites designated Kosmos 2610 through 2613 have changed their orbits to match that of a Finnish-American ICEYE radar satellite. These satellites, which launched together on April 16 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia, adjusted their inclinations by less than a degree. The maneuver positioned them to routinely pass near a commercial radar surveillance satellite that provides all-weather overhead radar images to Ukraine's military in its fight against Russia.

The orbit changes required significant fuel expenditure, equivalent to raising altitude by over 100 miles. The cross-track distances between the Russian satellites and ICEYE-X36 now range between 500 meters and 22 kilometers. A fifth satellite from the same launch appears to be performing similar maneuvers, suggesting this is not an isolated incident. According to space intelligence experts, such plane matching is the first and most fuel-expensive step to conducting proximity operations.

Russia has a history of probing US and allied forces in space, with previous satellites shadowing American spy satellites. These maneuvers could indicate preparations for anti-satellite operations, though Russia's exact intentions remain unclear. ICEYE recently expanded its partnership with Ukraine, providing high-resolution radar imagery that helps Ukraine make decisions faster and with greater confidence. The company operates dozens of radar imaging satellites, targeting a single spacecraft would do little to inhibit Ukraine's access to surveillance imagery.