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GovTech

Ukraine Builds Space Governance for Defence

Publication date and time:

Jul 21, 2025, 18:51

Reading time:

3 min

In a landmark move that cements Ukraine’s ambition to become a player in the global space and defence-tech arena, the Ministry of Defence has officially launched a Space Policy Directorate. This institutional leap signals Ukraine’s commitment to shifting from a consumer of satellite services to a co-creator of military space capabilities — a transition rooted in strategy, partnerships, and battlefield necessity.

Why Space, and Why Now?

Ukraine’s urgent need for space-based solutions is no longer a matter of long-term planning — it’s a wartime imperative. The Ministry outlines three strategic capabilities essential for military resilience:

1. Satellite Communications: With ground infrastructure persistently targeted by russian forces, satellite comms are the backbone of operational command and long-range drone coordination.
2. Intelligence and Reconnaissance: Satellite imagery enables early detection of enemy movements and logistics, transforming data into actionable insights.
3. Missile Threat Early Warning: Near-instant threat detection is vital for air defense response times — a capability only space-based sensors can ensure at scale.

These aren’t «nice to have» — they are existential needs for a state fighting a high-tech, asymmetric war.

What Is the Space Policy Directorate?

The newly formed Directorate is more than a bureaucratic structure — it is the strategic and technological nerve center of Ukraine’s military space efforts. It’s built to orchestrate a complex network of stakeholders across:

• The Security and Defence Forces, the end users of satellite-derived data.
• The State Space Agency of Ukraine and other state institutions.
• International allies and commercial partners.
• Ukrainian and foreign tech developers and research institutions.

With a team of just 20 experts — military lawyers, satellite specialists, engineers, and procurement strategists — the Directorate is lean but built for high-impact, wartime governance. It operates within the Ministry of Defence’s existing budget, reallocating funds without expanding personnel or overhead.

The team’s expertise spans satellite communications, remote sensing, navigation, geospatial intelligence, and space situational awareness. Their mission is not only to guide Ukraine’s space policy but also to serve as a critical bridge between battlefield requirements and technological solutions, ensuring the military can access space-based capabilities at speed and scale.

Tasks and Tech Focus

The Directorate’s operational map is built around three core mandates:

• The regulatory framework. The Directorate will prepare draft regulatory acts to support the development of the military’s space capabilities. The objective is to develop an efficient and adaptable policy, minimize bureaucracy, and swiftly address the challenges of war.

• Technological expertise. The Directorate will collaborate with scientific institutions, R&D centers, and developers to identify promising technologies, experts, and trends for integration into the defence sector.

• Strategic coordination of space-based support for combat operations. The Directorate will establish partnerships with international government and commercial entities, conclude contracts for technology and data provision, and, relying on battlefield data, provide timely recommendations on resource allocation and develop transparent procedures for requesting space services. This will expedite the military’s access to required technologies.

This is where govtech meets defence-tech — fast, data-driven, and strategically coordinated.

From Consumer to Contributor

russia currently operates a vast space infrastructure — over 200 satellites and an integrated Aerospace Force of 150,000 personnel. Ukraine, by contrast, is working with one operational satellite: the ICEYE SAR satellite, purchased through crowdfunding by the Serhiy Prytula Foundation.

This David-vs-Goliath contrast is exactly what the Directorate aims to change. It’s not just about acquiring assets — it’s about creating the ecosystem where Ukraine becomes an active contributor to allied space operations. A place at the table in NATO-aligned space frameworks. A voice in postwar security architecture.

This article is based on information provided by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.