A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 18th March at the Embassy of Ukraine in London by Dr. Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, and General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom. This accord marks the first agency-to-agency agreement between the UK Space Agency and the State Space Agency of Ukraine (SSAU). The signing marks the establishment of an effort to bring the space industry into the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership established in January 2025. The framework aims to foster collaboration, facilitate expertise exchange, and support new initiatives in civil and commercial space.
The SSAU brings a robust scientific and industrial base, developing advanced technologies and employing approximately 10,000 specialists. Separately, the UK Space Agency is committing €100,000 to a joint programme involving the European Space Agency (ESA) and the SSAU to strengthen Ukraine’s space sector. A primary project, ‘Agricultural and ecological monitoring services for Ukraine and Black Sea region (SEN4STATUkr),’ will utilise Earth Observation data for improved agricultural statistics.
This agreement underscores a mutual dedication to the peaceful use of outer space, international cooperation, and advancing space technologies for societal benefits. Dr. Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, articulated its significance:
“Space is central to modern economies, from communications and navigation to climate monitoring and infrastructure resilience. This agreement marks an important step in strengthening our partnership with Ukraine in the civil and commercial space sector. By working together, we can support innovation, unlock new commercial opportunities for UK and Ukrainian organisations, and harness space technologies to deliver real-world benefits for our citizens.”
Volodymyr Mikheiev, Acting Head of the State Space Agency of Ukraine, further elaborated:
“The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the State Space Agency of Ukraine and the UK Space Agency is an important step in strengthening cooperation between our countries in the space sector. We highly value the opportunity to begin a closer dialogue and exchange of experience between our agencies, as well as to bring our national space sectors closer together. I am confident that our partnership will contribute to the development of joint space initiatives for the benefit of the people of Ukraine and the United Kingdom.”
Following this, SSAU representatives will engage with UK Space Agency leads to explore collaboration. This accord solidifies the UK’s prominent role in international space cooperation and strengthens strategic ties with Ukraine.
Published by James Hydzik
James Hydzik is a technology geek focused on the junction of engineering, writing, and coffee. He joined Orbital Today in 2020 to help make sense of the Johnson government’s decision to buy OneWeb. Since then, he has taken on interviewing and editor-in-chief roles. James learned the ropes of editing and writing with Financial Times magazines, The World Bank, PwC, and Ericsson. Thus far, interviewing New Space movers has put the biggest smile on his workaday face. The son of an Electrical Engineer, James understands the value of putting complex topics into clear language for those with a lay person’s understanding of the subject. James is a European transplant from the United States, and as ex-KA3LLL, he now holds European amateur radio licenses. His next radio project is a portable 10GHz EME (moonbounce) station, as it combines his childhood interests in antennas and space.