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The former Ukrainian lieutenant switched sides from Ukraine to Russia when Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014.
The former Ukrainian lieutenant switched sides from Ukraine to Russia when Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014.
What is happening?
Since April 2025, Oleksiy Zubrytsky, a former Ukrainian army lieutenant turned Russian cosmonaut, has been part of the International Space Station (ISS) crew—a move stirring considerable controversy due to his past.
From Ukrainian Roots to Russian Allegiance
Zubrytsky was born in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, and graduated from the Air Force University in Kharkiv.
He initially served in the Ukrainian military but later switched sides during Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Desertion Amidst Conflict
When Russian forces occupied Crimea, Ukrainian command ordered Zubrytsky to relocate to a mainland unit.
Scheduled to report on May 12, 2014, he never arrived—marking the start of his defection.
Convicted of High Treason
On March 11, 2025, a Ukrainian court in Vinnytsia sentenced Zubrytsky in absentia to 15 years in prison.
The court found he had willingly supported Russian forces during a crucial period of geopolitical tension.
Aiding the Enemy in Sevastopol
Court records show Zubrytsky was in Sevastopol from March 22 to May 13, 2014.
He was accused of acting out of mercenary interest, aligning with enemy forces and compromising Ukraine’s national security.
Over a Decade in Russian Service
Following his defection, Zubrytsky served in the Russian military for more than ten years, including during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began in 2022.
A Cosmonaut with a Criminal Record
In 2018, Zubrytsky joined Russia’s space program.
Despite his conviction in Ukraine, he was launched to the ISS on April 8, 2025—reportedly becoming the first astronaut ever sentenced for treason.
Sharing Space with a Diverse Crew
Zubrytsky is currently on board the ISS with six others: Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, Americans Jonny Kim, Anne McClain, and Nichole Ayers, and Russian cosmonauts Kirill Peskov and Sergei Ryzhikov.
Axiom 4 Mission Joins the Station
As of June 2025, the station also hosts four more crew members from the Axiom 4 mission, including Poland’s Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, who made history as the first Polish astronaut on the ISS.
