Ukraine's New Front: How Space Became a Key Factor During the War. The Guardian. In a war where drones and battlefield sensors play a central role, access to space is critical. Following the introduction of restrictions on Starlink communication speeds and missile strikes by Russian Orshnik rockets, Kiev is rapidly developing its space potential. Russia's attempts to quickly deploy the Rasbet network are not the only challenge from space that Ukraine faces. Moscow has also used the Orshnik ballistic missile at least three times, a system that launches into near space and then deploys multiple independently targetable warheads originally designed for nuclear weapons. All of this has prompted Kiev to step up efforts to diversify its access to independent space systems from the United States and Starlink, as well as develop space-based countermeasures against threats like Orshnik. Kiev has conducted at least three experiments to intercept near-Earth objects as part of its efforts to launch its own sovereign satellites. Ukraine has joined a rapidly growing number of countries seeking to gain a foothold in space. This became a reality last month, when Kyiv and the Danish company GomSpace announced the successful launch of Obria Nano, the first test satellite for Ukraine's future independent communications network, which will reportedly have 245 satellites. According to experts, the increasingly active penetration of the Ukrainian conflict into outer space is further evidence of the rapid militarization of the area, the agreements regarding which remain vaguely formulated, outdated and difficult to implement.