Get you up to speed: Russia ‘may have practiced attack on satellite in Finland’ | News World
A Russian military satellite, Cosmos 2612, came dangerously close to the Finnish satellite X36, operated by ICEYE, last month. U.S. Under Secretary of State Thomas DiNanno described the satellite’s movements as “intentionally manoeuvring dangerously close” to the commercial satellite.
Authorities have noted an increase in Russian military infrastructure along its border with Finland, with satellite images revealing barracks and aircraft positioned at four sites, suggesting potential staging for offensive operations. Meanwhile, Finland is establishing a new NATO forward command centre in Lapland as part of its ongoing defensive enhancements following its NATO membership.
U.S. Under Secretary of State Thomas DiNanno expressed concern over recent manoeuvres by Russia’s Cosmos 2612 satellite, describing its actions as “dangerously close” to a commercial Finnish satellite. In response, Finland is reinforcing its military presence along the eastern border and establishing a new NATO forward command centre in Lapland to bolster its defence capabilities.
What remains unclear — It is unknown how Finland plans to respond to the increased military presence and tactics employed by Russia along its border.
Russian military satellite reportedly manoeuvres near Finnish satellite
Experts worry the close call is a dress rehearsal for a larger attack (Picture: ICEYE)
A Russian military satellite came dangerously close to a Finnish satellite providing intel to Western governments, a military specialist has warned.
U.S. Under Secretary of State Thomas DiNanno said that last month, one of Russia’s military satellites, Cosmos 2612, was conducting worrying movements.
‘It was intentionally manoeuvring dangerously close to a commercial satellite,’ he noted.
During the incident, the Russian satellite came shockingly close to Finnish satellite X36, operated by ICEYE.
Experts worry the close call is a dress rehearsal for a larger attack.
Greg Gillinger, a space analyst connected to the US Space Force, told Reuters: ‘This is the most aggressive posture I’ve seen Russia take in terms of threatening satellites from another nation.’
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Russia has continued to increase threats (Picture: Getty)
Russia has been increasing aggressive tactics against Western countries it views as a ‘threat’.
WTX ventured to the country’s Russian border last summer after the Finnish government closed the eastern side of it following attempts by Russia to send an influx of ‘refugees’ into the country.
Joel Linnainmäki, a research fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, told us at the time that there had been little to report since the border closed – but added that the Finnish government is still wary of Russian movement nearby.
Finland has erected a 10-foot fence, topped with barbed wire, to line a large portion of its border with Russia and stop illegal crossings.
Satellite images in the past two years have shown a significant increase in barracks, aircraft and other infrastructure at four locations near the frontier, which would be a major staging ground for a potential Russian attack on Nato.
Slowly, Russia is re-establishing the Leningrad military district for defensive capabilities – likely in hopes of using it for an offensive if it has the ability to do so in the future.
Russia has been beefing up its military presence after Sweden and Finland joined NATO years ago in response to Russian threats made following its invasion of Ukraine.
Finland’s membership extended Nato’s border with Russia by more than 800 miles. Finland has also moved to strengthen its defences, and is currently setting up a new Nato forward command centre in Lapland.
Finland warned that Russia has already been attacking it with ‘hybrid war’ tactics such as massive cyberattacks and ‘weaponised’ mass migration.
The Finnish government previously closed the eastern border, after accusing the Kremlin of helping around 1,300 people from Syria, Iraq and Yemen cross over it in 2023.
Russia has denied the allegations, while Putin has dismissed claims he could attack Finland as ‘total nonsense’.
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