Secret space missions: Ukraine launched rockets twice during wartime operations
Fedir Venislavskyi, Chairperson of the Subcommittee on State Security, Defense, and Defense Innovation of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence (Photo: Vitalii Nosach / RBC-Ukraine)
During the full-scale war, Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) operatives have successfully launched carrier rockets into space twice, says MP Fedir Venislavskyi, who heads the Subcommittee on State Security of the Verkhovna Rada Defense Committee, in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
Details of HUR space launches
According to the lawmaker, units of Ukraine’s military intelligence have already launched carrier rockets from Ukrainian territory into outer space on two occasions. The first launch reached an altitude of over 100 kilometers, while the second reached 204 kilometers. Both results were officially recorded by technical means.
"This is a unique situation for a country engaged in a full-scale war. It means Ukraine already has the technical capability to counter similar enemy attack systems and destroy them in space," Venislavskyi said.
He emphasized that these were not experiments but real combat missions carried out under the leadership of then–HUR chief Kyrylo Budanov.
"We have missiles that almost no one knows about, but which are capable of striking enemy territory at distances of up to 500 kilometers and flying at hypersonic speeds. We are successfully using them. But their primary purpose is to carry out extraordinary operations, including those we have just discussed," the MP noted.
Air launch and a 'flying spaceport'
In addition to these launches, an HUR task force completed another unique mission — launching a carrier rocket from a transport aircraft at an altitude of about 8 km.
"This was done for the first time on the European continent and only the second time in world history. The United States first achieved this in the mid-1970s. However, our deployment altitude is a record," Venislavskyi stressed.
This airborne system could soon evolve into a "flying spaceport." Launching rockets from the air saves energy needed to pass through dense layers of the atmosphere, significantly increasing range and strike efficiency, the MP explained.
The system is expected to be used both for civilian purposes and to counter Russian Oreshnik missiles.
"These are unique results achieved by our team under HUR leadership. We are continuing to work in this direction," Venislavskyi concluded.
Read also:
Ukrainian defense company nears launch of two supersonic ballistic missiles
Alternative to Patriot: Flamingo missile maker unveils new air defense system
