Ukraine launches own satellite network

Ukraine has launched its first satellites in an ambitious domestic space programme aimed at reducing dependence on the United States and private Western technology providers as the war with Russia drags deeper into its fourth year.

The move marks a major strategic shift for Kyiv, which is racing to secure independent intelligence, communications and battlefield capabilities after repeated concerns over the reliability of foreign support.

From Oval Office Tensions to Orbit

According to executives at Ukrainian defence technology firm Fire Point, two satellites are already operational, with dozens more planned by 2027.

Company co-founder Denys Shtilierman said the push accelerated after tensions between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy briefly disrupted intelligence-sharing from Washington last year.

Starlink Fears Changed the Calculation

Kyiv’s concerns also extend to SpaceX’s Starlink system, once viewed as a critical wartime lifeline.

Ukrainian officials and developers now fear Russian forces have adapted to exploit the network for drone navigation and targeting, exposing the risks of relying too heavily on privately controlled infrastructure.

A New Arms Market Emerges

Fire Point says several European governments and defence firms are already exploring partnerships to co-produce Ukrainian drones, missiles and space technology.

The pitch is not simply about cheaper weapons. Ukrainian firms increasingly market themselves as providers of strategic independence—offering countries alternatives to expensive Western systems and politically fragile supply chains.

Kyiv Builds a Wartime Space State

The Ukrainian government is moving quickly to formalise the effort. Earlier this year, the Defence Ministry announced the creation of a dedicated Space Policy Directorate focused on military space capabilities.

Officials say the body will oversee procurement, regulation, technological development and international partnerships. There are also growing hints Kyiv could eventually establish a dedicated military space branch.

War Is Reshaping Europe’s Tech Map

The satellite drive underscores how the conflict is transforming Ukraine from a recipient of Western defence aid into a rapidly evolving military-tech power.

For Kyiv, the lesson from years of war is becoming brutally clear: dependence can become vulnerability overnight.

Ukraine launches its own satellites — FT