Space has become a critical front in the war as Ukraine and Russia compete in orbit
Satellites and space technology are playing a growing role in the war in Ukraine. Ukraine is striking Russia's space industry and building its own satellite network, while Russia expands its space capabilities.
Access to space and satellites, which power drones, sensors and communications, has become increasingly important in the war between Ukraine and Russia. This is shown by Ukrainian strikes on Russia's space industry and by Kyiv's efforts to build an independent satellite system, The Guardian reports.
The Samara attack
On the morning of 15 August, Ukraine hit the Progress Rocket and Space Centre in the Russian city of Samara with two Flamingo missiles. The plant makes Soyuz-2 rockets. One damaged building was a facility where motherboards for Soyuz launch systems are assembled. These rockets deliver Russia's new Rassvet satellite network, which is being rapidly deployed to replace Elon Musk's Starlink, from which Russia was cut off this year. Ukraine has also struck other Roscosmos sites this year, including a complex in Korolyov north of Moscow and a Ukrainian-built radio telescope in Crimea that Russia captured.
Threats from space
Russia has used Oreshnik ballistic missiles at least three times. They launch into near space and release multiple independently targetable warheads. Ukraine has carried out at least three tests of near-space interception. Fedir Venislavskyi, head of the state security subcommittee of Ukraine's parliamentary defence committee, said the aim is to move to production, but funding will be a major problem.
Last month Ukraine and Denmark's GomSpace announced the launch of the Obria Nano test satellite, the first step toward an independent Ukrainian communications network that reportedly envisages about 245 satellites. Kyiv is trying to reduce its reliance on the US and Starlink, whose service was restricted in recent weeks.
Tension in orbit
In September, US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink acknowledged for the first time that the US has deployed on-orbit space control weapons. A few weeks later, the Russian satellite Kosmos 2612 was seen manoeuvring aggressively toward a radar satellite operated by Finland's Iceye, which provides imagery to the Ukrainian military. Dr Elena Grossfeld of the Swedish Defence University argues that space warfare is already a reality. Russia has also used signal jamming and laser-dazzling of satellites.
