Ukraine moves to create its own Space Force

Ukraine’s parliament has taken the first step toward creating a Space Force within the country’s armed forces. On November 9, the Verkhovna Rada approved in the first reading draft law No. 13255, which would set up Space Forces as a new branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The bill calls for developing space technologies to strengthen Ukraine’s defense. That includes building the country’s own early warning system to detect enemy missile launches and developing ways to counter such attacks. It also provides for a national secure satellite communications network for the security and defense sector.

A first-reading vote approves a bill’s general concept. Lawmakers can still propose amendments before a second reading, when the final text is adopted, and the law then needs the president’s signature to take effect.

The bill was introduced by a group of 33 lawmakers, including Fedir Venislavskyi, Oleksandr Fediienko and Yurii Zdebskyi of the ruling Servant of the People party and Roman Kostenko of the Holos party, Ukrainian News reported. Under the draft, the Space Forces would join the Ground Forces, Air Force and Navy as a separate branch, funded from the existing budget for the security and defense sector.

Missile warning is the most pressing gap the bill targets. Russia regularly fires ballistic missiles at Ukrainian cities and energy facilities, and Ukraine depends largely on allies, especially the United States, for satellite data that gives early warning of launches. A domestic system would give Kyiv its own source of that information.

Satellite communications are just as important on the front line. Ukrainian forces rely heavily on SpaceX’s Starlink terminals to control drones, coordinate units and keep command links running, and Kyiv has been looking for ways to reduce dependence on a single foreign commercial provider.

Ukraine already makes use of space in other ways. It buys imagery from commercial radar satellites, including one that drew attention when a Russian satellite shadowed a radar satellite used by Ukraine. Ukrainian developers have also worked on launch technology, as when Ukraine confirmed rocket launches into space during wartime.

Creating a new branch of the armed forces is not new for Ukraine during the war. In 2024, parliament set up the Unmanned Systems Forces as a separate branch to scale up drone warfare.

The bill now goes back to committee for amendments before a second-reading vote.