New Delhi: Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station have extended Independence Day greetings to India as the country prepares to celebrate its 80th Independence Day on 15 August.
Holding the Indian tricolour, the cosmonauts sent their greetings to India in a video message on Monday. The crew also highlighted the long-standing cooperation between Moscow and New Delhi. They said that space exploration has remained an important part of the close ties between the two countries.
“Eight decades ago, India broke free from colonial rule and embarked on a journey towards self-reliance and prosperity,” said cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov. He also highlighted the landmark achievements in human spaceflight, noting that 2026 marks 65 years since Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel into space.
Gagarin’s visit to India in November 1961 marked an important moment in the growing friendship between India and the Soviet Union. Recalling his words about the country, the cosmonauts said that India looked beautiful from space but was even more beautiful on Earth because it was home to “true friends.”
“India is very beautiful from above, but it is even more beautiful and special because it is home to true friends,” said cosmonaut Anna Kikina, recalling Gagarin’s words about India.
The three cosmonauts were seen holding the Indian tricolour alongside three posters showcasing India-Russia space cooperation. The posters featured images of Yuri Gagarin, Indian astronaut Rakesh Sharma and India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme.
“The friendship between our countries has been time-tested, and space exploration is one of the main areas of our cooperation,” said Kikina.
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India-Russia space cooperation
India and Russia’s space cooperation began in 1975, when the Soviet Union launched Aryabhata, India’s first satellite. The partnership grew stronger in 1984 when Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to travel into space aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 spacecraft, marking another major milestone in the two countries’ space collaboration.
Cosmonaut Kikina also highlighted how the partnership has entered a new phase with India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. Indian astronauts, or Gaganyatris, have undergone training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Russia in preparation for India’s first crewed space mission.
“This year, the Roscosmos State Corporation, the Rossotrudnichestvo Representative Office in the Republic of India and the Indian Space Research Organisation held a joint competition dedicated to cooperation between Russia and India in space,” said cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, adding that the winning entries from the competition were showcased alongside the Independence Day message.
The team also wished India peace and prosperity on its Independence Day and expressed hope that the friendship between India and Russia would grow even stronger.
“Long live India-Russia friendship,” cosmonaut Fedyaev added.