In Dreams and Awake I Fly to the Stars: Why Ukraine Is Creating Its Own Space Forces

9 November 2026 year the Verkhovna Rada approved in the first reading bill No. 13255 on the creation of Space Forces within the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The bill was supported by 252 deputies.

This means that a separate branch of the armed forces will soon appear within the Ukrainian military, aimed at operations outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

Despite all the pomp and even fantasy, this is exactly what the legislative initiative provides. 24 The channel reports what is known about the future Space Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and tries to figure out what they could be engaged in in the near future.

Ukraine creates its own space troops.

The deputies who voted for the initiative are convinced that it will spur the development of space technologies to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capability.

Currently, of course, we are not talking about space landing as in a Paul Verhoeven film, but in the Defense Forces they plan to create their own system that will pre-alert about launches of Russian missiles, as well as develop means to counter such attacks.

In addition, Ukraine wants to create its own protected satellite communications system for the military and other structures.

The bill has only been approved in principle for now. For final approval, parliament must vote for it in the second reading.

Interestingly, this bill was registered in parliament back in May 2025. One of its authors is deputy Fedir Veniuslavskyi.

It is he who is the main source for the Guardian article that caused a stir the day before, reporting that Ukraine has already conducted at least 3 tests of systems capable of countering Russia’s “Oreshnik” in space.

Reality of the fantasy.

The article from a British outlet provoked many discussions, because such systems are extremely expensive and high-tech weapons, possessed only by a few states in the world.

For example, we can mention the THAAD system from the United States. Although it is positioned as a universal system, its interceptors can operate both in the upper atmosphere (endoatmosphere) and at the lower boundary of the exoatmosphere to intercept short- and medium-range missiles.

In addition, a similar system has Israel in its arsenal. Arrow 3 or “Heron” / “Hetz” – a jointly developed space interception system by Israel and the United States. Designed to destroy Iranian ballistic missiles in space long before they reach Israeli territory.

In 2023 – 2024 years the system first demonstrated successful real combat interceptions of Yemeni missiles outside the atmosphere.

Intercept of an Iranian ballistic missile in space, March 2026-th – watch the video:

In 2025-th video with interception in space, air defense of Iranian missiles during Tehran’s response to Operation Midnight Hammer went viral and showed that billions were not spent in vain. Successful hunts for Iranian ballistic missiles in space occurred also in 2026.

They confirmed the reputation of American-Israeli air defense systems and intensified the discussion about the need to have something similar in the Ukrainian Defense Forces’ arsenal, given Russia’s constant strikes and Moscowists’ parades with the “Oreshnik” missiles.

Talks about the need to negotiate transferring such systems to Ukraine continued even in 2023 year (when we began to receive PATRIOT systems), but they did not succeed, since Israel refused to transfer its systems to anyone, and in the fall 2024, Trump won the election in the United States. After that, everything went quiet. Only experts and journalists continued discussions and tried to calculate how much it would all cost.

Ultimately, such comparisons immediately raise a logical question – can Ukraine, with budget deficits and significant financial problems covered mainly by European partners, develop similar systems? Because it is not free public transportation, though there are problems there too.

Perhaps we have invented something that has not yet been used in the world? Or decided to launch our own budgetary PSYOP, inspired by Reagan-era “Star Wars.” Media described the Pentagon program known as the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). It would have been a bluff, but the USSR believed it and, it is believed, got into a space arms race that helped bankrupt the “Sovka.”.

All this is just conjecture, but the question remains. Of course, one would like to believe that this is how it will really be, but for now there is very little information about the possibility of intercepting the “Oreshnik” in Space. And one would like to hear not from politicians but from experts. The mere fact of such information already arouses interest, but this story may not concern Space Warriors at all. Ukraine, which, as a reminder, is a spacefaring state, could develop other directions.

What was this and who will pay for it.

For example, creating a self-owned satellite communications system looks much more realistic.

When Russians turned off Starlink at the beginning of 2026, their front collapsed, and the Ukrainian defenders used this to their advantage. The enemy then hastily began pushing development of its own system “Rassvet,” which already has dozens of satellites in orbit, providing direct communication over Ukrainian territory for several hours a day.

Not critical yet, but the prospects and danger of such a project “Rassvet” are obvious.

That is why Ukrainian specialists are already thinking about how to counter this, and we have a clear understanding. First of all, this means improving our EW systems. In addition, it is also worth noting strikes against the opponent’s capabilities, which noticeably slow the Russians in implementing the project.

In August, with missiles “Flamingo” Ukraine struck the Russian spaceRocket center “Progess” in Samara – a producer of the Russian missiles “Soyuz-2.” They hit two buildings, including the facility known as Block 106A – the so-called “clean room” where motherboards for the Soyuz launch systems were assembled. This blow was very painful for Russia’s space program – in this way Ukraine substantially limited the extraterrestrial capabilities of the Russians, keeping them from Earth.

So what about the Ukrainian analogue of Starlink?

The foundation is laid. 1 October 2026, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch carried an experimental first communications satellite. In the future, this is planned to become Ukraine’s satellite network named OBRIA.

The first satellite will collect data and conduct a series of tests of data transmission and technical capabilities. Denmark assists us, specifically the aerospace company GomSpace, which will operate the satellite at the initial stage, but over time control will be transferred entirely to Ukrainian operators.

OBRIA NANO – Ukrainian satellite in Earth orbit / image – HIMERA & GomSpace

Dependence on technologies from other countries, including partner nations, creates strategic risks, especially during war. Developing domestic potential will help Ukraine diversify communication channels and strengthen its strategic security. OBRIA NANO will operate under Ukrainian control and will service Ukraine’s strategic security needs, as the company noted.

However, it should be noted that launching this project, which will involve at least 100 satellites, will take years, so expecting Ukraine to have its own Starlink-like network in a month is not realistic.

It is clear that this would significantly enhance our defense capabilities and Ukraine would not be dependent on anyone. We would probably also forget what ballistic attacks are, because with such systems the Defense Forces could destroy Iskander launchers and S-400 missiles on an industrial scale, but for now we can only hope.

We definitely need to establish Space Forces within the Ukrainian Armed Forces, because the war is moving into space and we must be ready. We must develop our own systems, strive to create competition, and direct all efforts toward the state’s defense capability.

However, we must consider all constraints, bottlenecks, and practical aspects.

The truth is that space is very expensive, it is very hard for one to shoulder such projects, so the ideal option is international co-production.

However, such cooperation imposes certain constraints, which in wartime can create big problems (we saw them in the Starlink/Starshield restrictions and the disruption of intelligence data and missile launch warnings).

So we must balance exclusivity, national interests, and joint work. Because besides the billions of euros required for such projects, access to technologies and willingness to share them for a common goal are also necessary. After all, even in space forces decision-making centers remain on Earth.