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No drop in space industry export due after Ukraine joins EU

Speaking about future co-operation with Russia, Alekseyev said Ukraine was keen to participate in the Russian project to launch a new heavy rocket complex

KIEV, October 23 (Itar-Tass) - Ukraine’s export potential in the space industry totals about $300-350 million a year, and the signing of the EU-Ukraine Association agreement is unlikely to have any negative effects in this respect, the Chairman of State Space Agency of Ukraine, Yuri Alekseyev, told a news briefing on Wednesday.

Alekseyev sees the roots of skepticism about the future of the Ukrainian space industry in “politics” and “politicians’ emotions.” He cited some very successful Ukrainian-Russian successful space co-operation programs.

“None of the agreements with the Russian Defense Ministry or with the Russian Federal Space Agency has been annulled. The usual thorough work is underway,” he assured.

Alekseyev expressed the certainty the coming two or three years would see no considerable changes or any production decline in the industry, as Ukrainian facilities are subcontractors providing parts and components for both Soyuz and Proton rockets.

“We are doing a great deal of work on rocket control systems and electronic elements,” he added.

Speaking about future co-operation with Russia, Alekseyev said Ukraine was keen to participate in the Russian project to launch a new heavy rocket complex.

"Engineers at the Yuzhnoye design bureau in Ukraine and the Russian rocket and space corporation Energia are exchanging notes and pushing ahead with research," he said.