NASA issued a statement condemning three Russian cosmonauts holding flags of the Russian-backed separatist regions in Eastern Ukraine while aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The actions of the cosmonauts were considered as anti-Ukraine propaganda.
International Space Station orbits Earth
NASA Press Secretary Released a Statement about the Cosmonauts' Action
NASA press secretary Jackie McGuinness emailed in a statement, The Verge reported, that NASA strongly rebukes Russia for using the International Space Station for political purposes to support its war against Ukraine. Mc Guinness continued that the action of the cosmonauts was fundamentally inconsistent with the station's primary function among the 15 international participating countries to advance science and develop technology for peaceful purposes.
In the Roscosmos Telegram channel, Russia's space agency published photos of the cosmonaut with the caption, "Liberation Day of the Luhansk People's Republic! We celebrate both on Earth and in space." The post came after the last major city held by Ukraine in Luhansk was captured.
Roscosmos congratulated the head of the LPR, Leonod Pasechnik, on the "New Day of the Great Victory." The message continued saying it was a long-awaited day that the residents had been waiting for eight years.
It is uncertain how the flags might have arrived on the space station. Although, on June 3, a Russian Progress cargo spacecraft docked with the space station after taking off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The cargo was carrying about three tons of food, fuel, and supplies, according to NASA.
The three cosmonauts were identified as Oleg Artemyev, Denis Matveyev, and Sergey Korsakov. NASA astronauts Robert Hines, Jessica Watkins, and Kjell N. Lindgren, as well as Italian Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency, are also on board the space station working alongside the three Russian cosmonauts (ESA). NASA and ESA crew did not comment on the flag-raising.
After Ukrainian soldiers left the city of Lysychansk on Sunday, the so-called Luhansk People's Republic asserts sovereignty over nearly the entire eastern blast of Ukraine, Luhansk, which borders Russia.
ALSO READ: How Do Astronauts Sleep, Shower, Live in International Space Station (ISS)? [Explainer]
Previous Cosmonauts Controversy
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, the three cosmonauts were the first Russian crew members to board the International Space Station (ISS). When they emerged from their Soyuz capsule wearing yellow uniforms, it was widely interpreted as a show of support for Ukraine.
The cosmonauts did not answer the interpretation. When questioned at the time about the suits, Artemyev indicated each crew selected their own.
Despite this controversy, NASA administrator Bill Nelson, said in an interview with the Associated Press, the professional connection between astronauts and cosmonauts has not skipped a beat. He said that they can work together with their Russian friends and colleagues in space.
NASA stated that Russia is still considering expanding its collaboration on the International Space Station. Both NASA and Roscosmos have continued to work on its upcoming crew swap in September. In this event, a Russian cosmonaut will travel to the ISS aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon and an American astronaut will travel aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule.
RELATED ARTICLE: Elon Musk Says SpaceX Could Keep ISS Aloft Amid Russian Space Agency's Threats
Check out more news and information on Space in Science Times.