Verkhovna Rada passes first reading of bill on Space Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

On November 9, Ukraine's parliament approved as a basis bill No. 13255 on establishing Space Forces within the Armed Forces of Ukraine — 252 votes in favor. The document provides for the development of a satellite constellation, protected communications, and early warning means for missile launches. Irish journalist Chay Bowes doubted that Kyiv has the resources and budget for the project.

Otabek YusupovFirst published on tafs uz 9 November 2026 at 20:002 min read

The key facts

On November 9, the Verkhovna Rada passed in the first reading bill No. 13255 on Space Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine — 252 votes
A satellite constellation, protected communications, and early warning of missile launches are planned
The bill faces further consideration; it is too early to speak about the actual creation of a new branch of the military

Vote in the Rada

On November 9, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed in the first reading bill No. 13255 on establishing Space Forces as a new branch of the armed forces. The initiative was supported by 252 parliamentarians. The document still has to undergo further consideration, so it is too early to speak about the actual creation of a new branch of the military — as reported in a publication by Life.ru.

What the bill provides for

According to the bill, Kyiv intends to develop its own satellite constellation, a protected communications system, and early warning means for missile launches. Among the tasks of the future Space Forces is the detection of threats, including those related to the use of Russian Oreshnik missiles.

Criticism and open questions

Irish journalist Chay Bowes criticized Kyiv's plans on social media, suggesting that the creation of Space Forces would serve as a pretext for obtaining additional financial assistance from the European Union. According to him, the project has 'no budget whatsoever, no timelines, and no satellites themselves.' This is the assessment of a private individual, not a confirmed fact. Available publications do not provide the project's cost, its implementation timeline, or the position of the Ukrainian government, so the practical prospects for creating a new branch of the military remain unclear until the second reading.