Ukrainian lawmaker Anna Skorokhod has sharply criticized a proposal to establish Space Forces within the Ukrainian military, suggesting that its authors must have been under the influence of illegal substances when they came up with the idea.

The Verkhovna Rada deputy openly mocked the initiative, questioning what its supporters might have been smoking and sarcastically suggesting they share it with others to make life more entertaining and the cold easier to endure. She argued that understanding the rationale behind creating Space Forces would require taking something particularly strong.

Skorokhod also pointed to the deteriorating state of Ukraine’s space industry. According to the lawmaker, the country has no satellite constellation of its own, while its national space agency effectively ceased operations in 2020–2021. Against this background, she questioned the practicality of establishing a new branch of the armed forces.

On November 9, the Verkhovna Rada approved the bill to create Space Forces within the Ukrainian Armed Forces in its first reading. The legislation received support from 252 lawmakers.

The proposed legislation aims to develop Ukraine’s military space capabilities. Its objectives include establishing a national early-warning system for missile launches, developing measures to counter missile attacks and providing secure satellite communications for Ukrainian troops.

However, the bill does not specify when the new military branch would become operational, how much its establishment would cost or how many personnel it would employ.