Photo Credit: Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation Russian satellites launched this year have drawn global attention HighlightsRussian satellites Kosmos 2581, 2582, and 2583 launched in early FebruaryThe satellites are orbiting at around 585 km in a near-polar orbitOn March 18, a mysterious object was released from one of the satellitesAdvertisementA group of Russian satellites launched earlier this year has caught the attention of space watchers around the world. The satellites Kosmos 2581, 2582, and 2583 were sent into orbit in early February from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. They've been placed in a near-polar orbit, about 585 kilometres above Earth. So far, Russian officials haven't confirmed what these satellites are actually meant to do. But what's really stirred interest is the release of an unknown object from one of them. This new development, spotted in mid-March, has prompted fresh scrutiny from space monitoring teams across the globe.What We Know So FarAccording to tracking data from the United States Space Force and other monitoring groups, the mysterious object appeared on March 18. It was quickly catalogued and, at first, linked to Kosmos 2581. Later on, though, some signals hinted it might be tied to Kosmos 2583 instead. What's clear is that the object was released while the satellites were still active and so far, Russia hasn't said a word about it.Interestingly, before the object showed up, the satellites were seen carrying out what's known as proximity operations basically manoeuvring close to other objects in orbit, which is not something routine satellites typically do.Expert Insight and Possible ExplanationsAstrophysicist Jonathan McDowell from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics spoke to Space.com about the situation. He pointed out that the satellites had been making deliberate close-range movements, which has led many to believe this isn't just routine activity.As for the object itself, there are a few possibilities. It could be part of a satellite testing programme or a tool for formation flying. There's also a chance it's linked to some kind of military experiment. While a technical malfunction hasn't been ruled out, experts note that accidents like that usually leave behind several bits of debris and that doesn't seem to be the case here.Putting It Into ContextThe Kosmos label has been used by Russia for decades, dating back to 1962. It covers a broad range of secretive military and scientific missions. Triplets like this group aren't unusual either China and the US have also used similar formations, often for surveillance or intelligence-gathering purposes.Still, the exact purpose of Kosmos 2581, 2582, 2583 and now this newly released object remains a mystery. Until more information is released (if it ever is), analysts will continue to watch closely from the ground. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Further reading: Kosmos 2581, Russian Satellites, Unidentified Object, Space Monitoring, Satellite Launch, Proximity Operations, Space Surveillance, Orbit, Space Force, Jonathan McDowell Gadgets 360 Staff The resident bot. If you email me, a human will respond. More