During the full-scale war, Ukraine has carried out at least two secret launches of carrier rockets into space. At the same time, the country is preparing to establish a separate branch of the military – the Space Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Space launches and an air-launch system
Fedir Venislavskyi, head of the parliamentary subcommittee on state security, defense, and defense innovations, shared the details in an interview with RBC-Ukraine. According to him, Ukraine’s military intelligence units successfully launched carrier rockets into space twice. The first launch reached an altitude of over 100 kilometers, while the second reached 204 kilometers. Technical systems confirmed both results.
“This is a unique situation for a country that is in a state of full-scale war,” Venislavskyi said.
In addition, Ukraine tested a so-called “air-launch space system.” In this case, a carrier rocket launches from a transport aircraft at an altitude of about 8 kilometers. According to Venislavskyi, this has happened only once before in history – in the United States in the 1970s. However, Ukraine exceeded that record in terms of launch altitude.
“It can be used for peaceful purposes as well as to counter the ‘Oreshnik’ system. In other words, rockets can be launched not from the ground, but from the air,” he explained.
Moreover, Ukraine already has missiles capable of striking targets at distances of up to 500 kilometers and reaching hypersonic speeds. Still, some of these developments remain classified.
Why Ukraine needs Space Forces
Ukraine is now working on creating the Space Forces as a new military branch. These forces will provide space-based intelligence, secure communications, and the capability to intercept Russian missiles. This need emerged because Russia uses missiles such as the “Oreshnik.” These systems follow a partially orbital trajectory and leave the atmosphere. According to Venislavskyi, Ukraine is the first country against which such weapons have been used.
“It is most effective to intercept the ‘Oreshnik’ before the warheads separate from the carrier rocket in space. It is easier to destroy one target than six that split and maneuver at hypersonic speed in different directions,” he said.
Currently, air defense systems operate at altitudes of up to 30–40 kilometers. However, such missiles can fly much higher. To intercept a carrier rocket, systems must reach altitudes above 100 kilometers. This means operating in outer space.
Timeline and prospect
The full development of Space Forces, including national satellites and independent communications, may take three to five years. According to Venislavskyi, space-based intelligence will allow Ukraine to build a complete real-time picture of the battlefield. At the same time, domestic telecommunications satellites will guarantee secure communication for military leadership. As a result, Ukraine will rely less on its partners.
However, funding remains the key challenge. While Ukraine has strong scientific potential, large-scale space projects require significant resources. In the post-war period, the Space Forces could become a driver of economic growth, as these are among the most advanced technologies in the world, Venislavskyi said.
Earlier, The Ukrainian Review reported that in March Ukraine launched more long-range strike drones than Russia for the first time. According to daily reports, Ukrainian forces have seized the initiative in the cross-border drone war.
