In a move that signals Ukraine's growing recognition of space as a critical domain for national security, the country's parliament has taken a decisive step toward creating its own Space Forces. On November 9, 2026, the Verkhovna Rada voted overwhelmingly to advance legislation proposing the establishment of Space Forces as a dedicated branch of the Armed Forces. The vote, supported by 252 lawmakers, represents a significant shift in Ukraine's defense strategy, particularly as the nation continues to face persistent threats from neighboring aggressors.
The legislation, first registered in May 2025, aims to develop national space technologies specifically for defense purposes. These include early-warning systems capable of detecting missile launches and secure satellite communication networks that would function independently of foreign providers.
Ukraine’s parliament advances the creation of Space Forces to counter missile threats including Russia’s Oreshnik and to launch its own military satellites. https://t.co/GBYfUejOHQ
The push for indigenous space capabilities has been amplified by recent public tensions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and tech billionaire Elon Musk. Just days before the parliamentary vote, Zelensky criticized what he described as dangerous concentrations of power in the hands of wealthy individuals. "There is too much power in the hands of one very wealthy person," Zelensky stated in a November 5 interview with ZDF Magazin Royale. "Such a concentration of power is dangerous."
The draft legislation, numbered 13255, proposes amending existing Ukrainian laws to formally integrate the Space Forces into the military structure.
Musk responded by amplifying a social media post claiming that granting Ukraine access to Starlink terminals was a "mistake," further straining relations between the Ukrainian leadership and the private space company that has provided crucial communication infrastructure during the conflict.
The draft legislation, numbered 13255, proposes amending existing Ukrainian laws to formally integrate the Space Forces into the military structure. According to the Verkhovna Rada, the new branch will provide "a legislative foundation for developing organizational, legal, institutional, and military-technical capabilities." The parliament emphasized that this development is essential for addressing modern threats that increasingly extend into the space domain.
🇺🇦🛰️ Verkhovna Rada adopted the law on the creation of the Space Forces within the Armed Forces of Ukraine with 252 votes in favor https://t.co/Cfb0i5w2Z8
"The creation of the Space Forces as a new branch within the Armed Forces of Ukraine will enable Ukraine to acquire the organizational-legal, institutional, and military-technical capabilities to counter the threat of aggression from outer space – whether from the Russian Federation or any other potential aggressor," the parliament stated in an explanatory note accompanying the bill.
The explicit mention of the Russian Federation in the legislative rationale underscores the strategic intent behind the new branch, framing the space domain as a front line in the ongoing conflict where defensive capabilities must be fortified against state actors identified as aggressors.
The vote represents a military reorganization that signals Ukraine's commitment to developing indigenous space technologies to strengthen its defense capabilities. The legislation envisions the development of space technologies "to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities," focusing on the establishment of a domestic infrastructure that reduces dependence on foreign providers for critical military functions.
As the conflict continues to evolve, Ukraine's decision to create Space Forces reflects an understanding that modern warfare increasingly encompasses domains beyond land, sea, and air. The parliamentary vote marks the first step in a process of establishing the organizational structure and developing the technological capabilities needed for this new branch of the military.
⚡️ Ukraine’s parliament backs legislation to create a dedicated Space Force within the Armed Forces. https://t.co/3PDSUWiQFd
With the legislation now advanced in its first reading, the Ukrainian parliament will continue to refine the proposal before it can become law. The establishment of Space Forces represents a significant investment in Ukraine's future security, particularly as the nation seeks to build resilience against threats that originate not just from neighboring territories but from the increasingly contested domain of outer space.