NASA condemns Russian cosmonauts displaying anti-Ukraine propaganda in space

Image: Roscosmos Telegram

NASA strongly condemned the actions of three Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station who posed with flags considered anti-Ukraine propaganda. The flags of the Luhansk People's Republic and the Donetsk People's Republic can be seen in pictures posted by Russia's state space corporation.

NASA strongly rebukes Russia using the International Space Station for political purposes to support its war against Ukraine, which is fundamentally inconsistent with the station's primary function among the 15 international participating countries.

Russia is NASA's main partner on the International Space Station. Despite ongoing tension between the United States and Russia over the invasion of Ukraine, NASA and Roscosmos have continued to work together to maintain continuous operations on the International Space Station. Even as Russia threatened to pull out of the partnership, the relationship continued, even as Russia joked about stranding an American in space. This is the first time that NASA has spoken out against the actions of Russia in space.

The photos were posted to the Telegram channel. Three people are on the station. The flags of the Luhansk People's Republic and the Donetsk People's Republic are held by three people. There is a post about the liberation day of the Luhansk People's Republic. Both Earth and space are celebrated. The last major city in Luhansk was captured by the Ukrainians on July 3rd. Both the Luhansk People's Republic and the Donetsk People's Republic are supported by the Russian government.

There were rumors that the same Russian crew made a statement when they arrived at the International Space Station. The trio wore bright yellow jumpsuits with blue colors, which many thought was a show of support for Ukraine, whose flag has bright yellow and blue. The jumpsuits were not a political statement, but a representation of the colors of the university all three of the cosmonauts attended, according to the agency.

NASA officials have remained steadfast in their belief that the relationship between the US space agency and the Russian space agency is still strong. We can have a cooperation with our Russian friends up in space despite all of that. NASA administrator Bill Nelson told the Associated Press in March that the professional relationship between astronauts and cosmonauts is still going strong. There is cooperation going on in the space program.

A crew swap between a Russian and an American will take place in September, when a Russian cosmonaut will ride on the Crew Dragon to the International Space Station.