A Ukrainian military pilot convicted of high treason has re-emerged in Earth’s orbit – rather than behind bars – after securing a spot aboard a Russian space mission.

Alexey Zubritsky, aged 32 and originally from Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, was sentenced in absentia to 15 years’ imprisonment by a court in Vinnytsia in March 2025. He was found guilty of desertion and high treason after defecting to Russian forces during the annexation of Crimea in 2014. At the time, Zubritsky served as a pilot in Ukraine’s 204th Sevastopol Brigade. When ordered to redeploy to mainland Ukraine, he remained in Russian-occupied Sevastopol and subsequently enlisted in Russia’s military aviation corps.

Zubritsky launched aboard the Soyuz MS-27 rocket on 8 April 2025 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, now as a fully qualified cosmonaut. The mission, designated the “Victory Rocket” in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Second World War, also included Russian cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov and American astronaut Jonny Kim. After completing two orbits, the spacecraft docked with the Russian segment of the International Space Station later the same day.

Zubritsky is scheduled to remain on the ISS for seven months as part of Expedition 72, contributing to more than 50 scientific experiments in low-Earth orbit. His duties include managing incoming cargo shipments, maintaining operational systems, and potentially engaging in spacewalks organised by both Russian and US mission planners. In addition, he has been appointed as a “special correspondent” for the state-run news agency TASS, a role that combines scientific engagement with symbolic media representation.

Ukrainian prosecutors have denounced his participation as an act of betrayal. In an official statement, authorities described Zubritsky’s role in the Russian space programme as “actions damaging the sovereignty, territorial integrity and defence capability” of Ukraine. His assets within Ukraine have been ordered to be confiscated.

Russian media has widely celebrated Zubritsky’s mission. Pro-Kremlin outlets have portrayed him as a heroic figure, framing his journey from convicted defector to orbiting cosmonaut as a narrative of national pride and determination.