Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada has passed a law establishing the country’s Space Forces. They will reportedly be responsible for defending our country against ballistic missiles, although their development may extend beyond this role.
Clarifying the Structure of the Armed Forces
On November 9, 2026, Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada adopted Bill No. 13255, “On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On the Armed Forces of Ukraine’ Regarding Clarification of the Structure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.” It provides for the establishment of Space Forces alongside the country’s Ground Forces, Navy and Air Force. According to tsn.ua, 252 lawmakers voted in favour.
The document does not specify what the newly established Space Forces will do. The bill was submitted in May 2025, with Fedir Venislavskyi, the President’s representative in the Verkhovna Rada, among its sponsors. It received favourable assessments from the relevant parliamentary committees at the time, but was only adopted now.
According to Venislavskyi, this component of the Armed Forces will be tasked with neutralising ballistic missiles, such as Oreshnik, that Russia launches at Ukrainian cities. Its units are expected to shoot them down in the upper portion of their ballistic trajectory, while they are effectively still outside Earth’s atmosphere.
What Will the Space Forces Do?
Ballistic missiles are extremely difficult to intercept precisely because they travel at exceptionally high altitudes and speeds during the middle portion of their trajectory. This is why Russia uses Oreshnik to intimidate everyone. There are neither the means to shoot it down nor enough time to reach shelter, which spreads panic.
The Space Forces have been established at an interesting moment. Just a few days ago, news agencies reported that Ukraine had already attempted to neutralise Russian ballistic missiles at least three times using domestically produced interceptors. If this is indeed the case, it makes us one of the very few countries capable of developing such weapons.
In addition, the first Ukrainian communications satellite recently reached orbit. Providing satellite communications is also an extremely important task for the country’s defence capability. Judging by international experience, this responsibility should also fall to the Space Forces. Their range of duties is quite likely to continue expanding in the future.
