--- title: "US Government Accuses Russian Spacecraft of “Threatening Behavior” and Orbital “Weapons Operations”" description: "Accusations are flying after a Russian satellite came within less than a mile of a US-operated spy satellite in low Earth orbit." date: "2026-10-23" modified: "2026-10-23" authors: - name: "Joe Wilkins" job_title: "Correspondent" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jwilkins.md" url: "https://futurism.com/space/us-government-russian-spacecraft-threatening-behavior-satellite" categories: - "Astronomy" - "Space" - "Space Force" --- # US Government Accuses Russian Spacecraft of “Threatening Behavior” and Orbital “Weapons Operations” ![A photo shows US undersecretary of state Thomas DiNanno.]() *Getty Images / NurPhoto* Last Saturday, a 17,000 mph game of cat-and-mouse appears to have played out in low Earth orbit. According to new images [obtained by *Axios*](), the Russian satellite Cosmos 2612 engaged in maneuvers that brought it within less than a mile of the Swedish-made Earth observation satellite Iceye-X36. According to the outlet's reporting, the Russian craft burned fuel in order to adjust its altitude and speed to match that of the US-operated satellite. In a post [on social media](), US undersecretary of state Thomas DiNanno blasted the Russian space agency for "exhibiting threatening behavior by intentionally maneuvering dangerously close to a commercial satellite," which he claims are "consistent with on-orbit weapons operations." Russian officials, meanwhile, dismissed the accusation that its satellites are armed and ready for combat as "unfounded," instead [framing the event]() as an operation meant to counter Western intelligence sharing with the Ukrainian military. "Western countries headed by the United States continue to use loudspeaker diplomacy repeating absurd accusations about Russia's space activity," deputy head of Russia's delegation to the United Nations Konstantin Vorontsov said in a statement [translated by *Ars Technica*](). The Iceye-X36 is a sun-synchronous craft, meaning it's always flying on the sunlit side of the Earth at any given time. It works as part of a constellation of over 50 small satellites equipped with [synthetic aperture radar](), a type of imaging equipment which uses microwaves to produce high-resolution images of the ground. Beyond the Iceye constellation, the US Space Force has [previously admitted]() to outfitting military satellites with weapons, which has drawn its [own condemnation]() from other space-faring countries over the militarization of the skies above. Regardless of the cause, the Russian spacecraft's maneuvers demonstrate just one of the many techniques spacefaring countries can use to jockey for orbital supremacy. As for whether the US has any plans to respond, military officials were tight-lipped. "We are aware of the situation and tracking it closely," a US Space Force spokesperson [told *Air And Space Forces Magazine*]() in a boilerplate statement. "Our constellation architecture is designed for continuity and resilience." **More on satellites:** *[Scientists Warn That New Satellites Could Cause Eye Damage for People on the Ground]()* ## Author At Futurism, I focus on the intersection of technology and power — examining the economics, history, and politics behind today’s dystopian headlines. As a writer, I’m interested in topics ranging from AI’s impact on labor to startups nobody asked for. My prior work includes bylines in Jacobin, Verso, and Blue Labyrinths. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Forbes, The Guardian, MIT Technology Review, Time, The Nation, Mother Jones, The Verge, and Wired. I grew up in Michigan, attending Central Michigan University as well as Ball State University, where I earned a master of music. I now live in Brooklyn with my girlfriend and our cat Ziti. On weekends, you can find me hunched over a cold pint arguing geopolitics with the other transplants. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()