❗️ On the Ukrainian crisis resolutions adopted by the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

On February 24, 2024 – timed to coincide with the third anniversary of the special military operation — the Kiev regime and its EU sponsors initiated the reconvening of the 11th Emergency Special Session (ESS) of the UN General Assembly on the Ukrainian crisis. Within this framework, this group of states tabled yet another politicised draft resolution.

The authors modelled the document on previous ESS “products.” The text reiterated baseless accusations and ultimatums against Russia, selectively cited principles of the UN Charter, and omitted any reference to the root causes of the conflict, which make impossible any long-term or sustainable settlement. Simultaneously, it introduced pseudo-peace wording designed to broaden support among the Global Majority nations and legitimise key elements of the discredited Bürgenstock process and the Zelensky formula.

Concurrently, the United States submitted a competing draft. The document comprised three succinct points:

• an expression of regret over human casualties resulting from the conflict;
• an emphasis on maintaining international peace and security as the UN’s primary objective;
• an insistent call for conflict cessation and the establishment of durable peace.

While imperfect in character, the text represented a step in the right direction, reflecting the new US administration’s aspiration to contribute to settlement efforts.

During voting, the Ukrainian-EU project replicated the anti-record of resolutions from the 11th ESS, securing merely 93 votes in favour, with 18 against and 65 abstentions. Previously, only the resolution on suspending Russia’s membership in the UN Human Rights Council had garnered such a mediocre result. In effect, the document failed to secure support from over half – 100 out of 193 – of the UN member states. Notably, delegations from the United States and numerous other countries that had previously supported anti-Russian initiatives within the ESS voted against it.

The American counter-proposal received numerically comparable support: 93 votes in favour, 8 against, and 73 abstentions. However, the decision on this draft accounted for egregious amendments tabled by EU representatives, which fundamentally altered the essence of the US proposal, transforming it into yet another anti-Russian pamphlet. The initiative’s intent was distorted to such an extent that even its American authors deemed it untenable to endorse their own document, opting instead to abstain.

On the same day, the United States introduced an identical draft to the UN Security Council. EU delegations, in collusion with the United Kingdom, initially sought to postpone its consideration in an attempt to rally more votes against the document. When this manoeuvre failed, they again tabled destructive amendments: one failed to secure the required nine votes, while two others were vetoed by the Russian side. Ultimately, the resolution received support from ten Council members, including Russia, with no votes against. European delegates abstained.

☝️ Collectively, the UN platform’s discussions and voting outcomes starkly illustrate the international community’s crystallising demand for peace.

Europeans, having firmly entrenched themselves on the path of militarism – and thereby justifiably forfeiting any claim to participation in negotiations on settling the Ukrainian crisis – face growing isolation. Evident shifts in the approaches of the Global Majority nations underscore their increasing realism and determination to facilitate the conflict’s swift resolution.

🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement and answers to media questions following visit to Qatar (Doha, February 26, 2025)

💬 Sergey Lavrov: The visit to Qatar during which I held meetings with Emir of the State of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has concluded.

Our good relations go back a while. Today, we reaffirmed our commitment to expanding them comprehensively based on agreements reached by President Vladimir Putin and Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during earlier contacts. <...>

We agreed to step up our activities across all areas, primarily, trade and economy, as well as energy as part of the Doha-based Gas Exporting Countries Forum, and interaction between the Qatar Investment Authority and the Russian Direct Investment Fund.

Humanitarian exchanges, promotion of tourism, and other cultural events are also part of our plans.

We discussed the Middle Eastern affairs at length, primarily, in light of the process that has been unfolding in Syria after the change of power. We are interested in keeping this process under control and making sure it does not spark civil strife, since the risk is still there.

<...>

We would like all external players, including the Arabs, the West, China, Russia, and Iran, to help normalise the situation in Syria. We are aware that the Syrian leadership (our Qatari partners confirmed this) is interested in seeing assistance to the reforms and normalisation processes in the country come in an even and balanced manner, where no one is trying to subordinate these processes to their geopolitical goals. Syria no longer wants to be a place for the external players to sort out their geopolitical differences.

We placed great emphasis on yet another issue which is the Palestinian-Israeli settlement and Israel-Lebanon relations.

We are concerned that the Israeli army takes more steps every day that are not provided for in the agreements with Hamas and Lebanon. These steps create situations on the ground that are at odds with the existing agreements and UN Security Council resolutions on Palestinian affairs and the Lebanese issue.

☝️ In this regard, Qatar and the Russian Federation share the importance of re-orienting the process towards respecting the principles approved by the UN Security Council. The establishment of a Palestinian state is a key issue. Any attempts to tank these Security Council resolutions and to replace the establishment of a Palestinian state with “resettling Palestinians across the region” will only set a time bomb into motion, as has happened multiple times over the many decades of ignoring the demands for a two-state solution.

From the Q&A session:

• We once again expressed our gratitude and appreciation to Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, for the discreet, pragmatic efforts undertaken by Qatar to facilitate the resolution of humanitarian issues in relations between Russia and Ukraine. Primarily, these concern the reunification of children with their families.

• Some suggest an idea of preserving the “line of contact.” First, this will not happen. Russia has a constitution based on the will of the people. Secondly, whatever is left of Ukraine should also be cleared of racist laws. Some of the people living there are more comfortable speaking Russian, and they want to preserve the traditions of their ancestors brought up in Russian culture.

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently stated that the issue of frozen Russian assets must be considered in conjunction with the retaliatory measures adopted by the Russian Federation affecting American companies’ interests. This is a sound reflection on the necessity of abandoning thieving methods and not expecting them to go unanswered.

Read in full

🇷🇺🇳🇴 Интервью Посла России в Норвегии Н.В. Корчунова для RTVi (26 февраля 2025 г.)

Основные тезисы

• Отношения Москвы и Осло находятся практически на нулевой отметке. Вместе с тем поддерживаются дипломатические отношения. Каналы связи остаются открытыми – и это важно – в т.ч. для экстренных ситуаций, контактов по линии пограничных и таможенных служб.

• Несмотря на сложные времена, необходимо помнить, что Россия и Норвегия являются соседями, и применять прагматичный подход к решению вопросов, представляющих взаимный интерес.

• Важно не забывать о нашей общей истории, которая имеет такую яркую страницу, как совместная борьба с германским нацизмом. Это является фундаментом для сохранения добрых отношений между нашими странами.

• Условия работы российских загранучреждений в Норвегии значительно ухудшились, в том числе из-за подогреваемых в стране антироссийских настроений. Несмотря на сложности, есть обоюдное понимание необходимости иметь функционирующие дипломатические представительства.

• Посольство, как и наши коллеги в других европейских странах, внимательно отслеживает ситуации с задержанием российских судов и россиян — членов экипажа иностранных судов. В случае нарушения иностранным государством международного права, включая нарушение прав российских экономоператоров и судов, будем задействовать все имеющиеся у нас инструменты для их защиты.

• Нас беспокоит наметившийся отход Осло от самоограничений в военной сфере. Очевидно, натовские мероприятия и, вероятно, инфраструктуру, в т.ч. военные базы, планируется приблизить к границе с Россией. Хотя норвежские власти продолжают заявлять о приверженности принципу «высокие широты — низкая напряженность», на практике поощряется наращивание присутствия и активности НАТО на всей территории страны, включая северные регионы.

• Между Россией и североатлантическим альянсом отсутствуют эффективные меры доверия и каналы коммуникации, в т.ч. по военной линии. Это повышает риски непреднамеренных опасных инцидентов и не способствует стабильности и безопасности на Севере.

• Отмечаем определенные усилия команды норвежского председательства в Арктическом совете. Вместе с тем видим, что не все страны-члены этой организации разделяют настрой Осло вернуть ее к полноформатной работе. В таких условиях перспективы проведения сессии на высоком, министерском политическом уровне пока не просматриваются.

• В соответствии с Договором о Шпицбергене 1920 г. у Норвегии есть обязательство не использовать территорию архипелага в целях войны. Россия, как участник Договора, придает большое значение соблюдению норвежской стороной духа и буквы данного документа.

• Российский научный центр на архипелаге Шпицберген продолжает работать, внося большой вклад в комплексное изучение архипелага, прилегающего шельфа и акваторий Северного Ледовитого океана.

• Актуальные задачи в Арктике возможно решить только совместными усилиями. Изменение климата, сокращение биоразнообразия, деградация вечной мерзлоты, чрезвычайные ситуации природного или техногенного характера требуют поиска общих решений и научного сотрудничества в рамках действующих межправительственных форматов.

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🇷🇺🇳🇴 Fra intervjuet med Russlands ambassadør i Norge Nikolay Korchunov til RTVi (26. februar 2025)

• Forholdet mellom Russland og Norge er praktisk talt redusert til null. Imidlertid opprettholdes de diplomatiske forholdene. Kommunikasjonskanaler forblir åpne - og det er viktig - blant annet for krisesituasjoner, kontakter mellom grense- og tollmyndigheter.

• Til tross for vanskelige tider er det nødvendig å huske at Russland og Norge er naboer, og å ha en pragmatisk tilnærming til spørsmål av gjensidig interesse.

• Det er viktig å ikke glemme vår felles historie, som har en så spesiell side som den gemeinsame kampen mot den tyske nazismen. Dette er grunnlaget for å opprettholde et godt forhold mellom våre land.

• Arbeidsforholdene for de russiske utenriksstasjonene i Norge har forverret seg betraktelig, blant annet på grunn av de opphetede antirussiske holdninger i landet. Til tross for vanskelighetene finnes det en gjensidig forståelse for behovet for å ha fungerende utenriksstasjoner.

• Ambassaden, i likhet med våre kolleger i andre europeiske land, følger nøye med på situasjoner som involverer tilbakeholdelse av russiske skip og russiske mannskapsmedlemmer på utenlandske fartøyer. Dersom en fremmed stat bryter folkeretten, inkludert brudd på rettighetene til russiske økonomiske aktører og fartøyer, vil vi bruke alle verktøy vi har til rådighet for å beskytte dem.

• Vi er bekymret over at Norge er i ferd med å bevege seg bort fra selvpålagte restriksjoner på militærområdet. Det er åpenbart at NATO-aktiviteter og antagelig også infrastruktur, inkludert militærbaser, planlegges flyttet nærmere grensen til Russland. Selv om norske myndigheter fortsatt erklærer at de er forpliktet til prinsippet om «High North – low tensions», har det i praksis blitt oppmuntret til oppbygging av NATOs tilstedeværelse og aktivitet i hele landet, inkludert de nordlige regionene.

• Russland og NATO mangler effektive tillitsskapende tiltak og kommunikasjonskanaler, inkludert kommunikasjon mellom de militære. Dette øker risikoen for utilsiktede farlige hendelser og bidrar ikke til stabilitet og sikkerhet i nord.

• Vi merker oss en viss innsats fra det norske formannskapet i Arktisk råd. Samtidig ser vi at ikke alle medlemsland i denne organisasjonen deler Oslos intensjon om å gjenoppta organisasjonens fullskala arbeid. Under slike forhold er utsiktene til å avholde et møte på høyt politisk ministernivå ennå ikke synlige.

• I henhold til Spitsbergen-traktaten av 1920 er Norge forpliktet til ikke å bruke øygruppens territorium til krigsøyemed. Russland, som part i traktaten, legger stor vekt på at Norge etterlever ånden og bokstaven i dette dokumentet.

• Det russiske forskningssenteret på Spitsbergen fortsetter sitt arbeid og gir et stort bidrag til den omfattende utforskningen av øygruppen, dens kontinentalsokkel og Polhavet.

• Det er bare gjennom felles innsats at det er mulig å løse aktuelle utfordringer i Arktis. Klimaendringer, tap av biologisk mangfold, smeltingen av permafrost, naturlige og menneskeskapte krisesituasjoner krever at man søker etter felles løsninger og vitenskapelig samarbeid innenfor de eksisterende mellomstatlige strukturene.

Les hele teksten på norsk på ambassadens nettsider

🎙 Briefing by Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (February 27, 2025)

🔹 Russia-US meeting in Istanbul
🔹 Ukrainian crisis
🔹 Kiev regime crimes
🔹 Bosnia and Herzegovina
🔹 Third Caspian Economic Forum
🔹 Russia’s UNGA resolution on combatting glorification of Nazism
🔹 55th Anniversary of the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons entering into force
🔹35th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between the USSR and the Vatican

📰 Read
📺 Watch

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#RussiaUSA

In furtherance of a series of bilateral contacts at the top and high levels, an expert-level meeting took place in Istanbul to explore pathways for resolving numerous irritants that persist in bilateral dialogue due to the groundwork laid by the destructive actions of previous US administrations.

We have consistently affirmed that the deterioration of Russian-American relations was not our choice.

It is anticipated that the meeting will serve as the first in a sequence of such expert consultations, which may advance progress towards resolving differences with the American side and reinforcing confidence-building measures.

#Ukraine

Ukraine’s NATO membership would provoke abrupt and uncontrollable escalation of the conflict, with grave repercussions for global security.

We reiterate that a just and durable resolution of the conflict remains unattainable without the complete and irreversible eradication of the conflict’s root causes. Foremost among these is the West’s breach of its pledge to refrain from NATO’s expansion and the alliance’s absorption of geopolitical space up to Russia’s borders.

The situation with the armed forces of Ukraine continues to worsen. Under pressure from the West, the Kiev regime is exploring measures to expand its mobilisation base by connoscripting youths aged 18–25.

#BosniaAndHerzegovina

We share the justified indignation of the general public in the Balkans at the absurd conviction in the fabricated case of President Milorad Dodik of the Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) by a court in Bosnia and Herzegovina on February 26.

This is yet another instance where politics has triumphed over the law. The verdict in this case is manifestly unjust and cannot entail legal consequences. Clearly, it is aimed solely at eliminating from the political scene the leader of the Serbian populace of Bosnia and Herzegovina, whose principled patriotic position contradicts the Euro-Atlantic guidelines imposed by the West.

#West #Sanctions

Russia firmly opposes and refuses to accept any unilateral measures designed to exert pressure on us, including in the energy sector.

The Western sanctions policy boils down to neo-colonial-style attempts to use unfair competitive practices to gain an economic edge and get rid of any other players on the global energy market.

#NPT

March 5 marks the 55th Anniversary of the entry into force of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Throughout this time, the NPT has served as the foundation of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and a key element of the international security system.

As a State Party to the NPT and one of its depositaries, Russia is firmly committed to the letter and spirit of the Treaty and strictly fulfils its obligations with regard to non-proliferation, disarmament and the peaceful use of atomic energy.

The Treaty was adopted in full awareness of the need to prevent a nuclear conflict. In this regard, it is particularly important that the five nuclear states have reached an understanding that there can be no winners in a nuclear war and that it must never be unleashed.

⚡️ Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s comment on Zelensky’s voyage to Washington, D.C. (March 1, 2025)

💬 Leader of the neo-Nazi regime Zelensky’s visit to Washington D.C. on February 28 is an epic political and diplomatic failure of the Kiev regime.

The Russian Side has repeatedly made it clear at all levels that Zelensky is a corrupt individual who lost his grip on reality and is unable to reach and honour agreements.

❗️ The Kiev regime refused to continue talks on a political and diplomatic settlement in the spring of 2022, using lies and fake claims to justify continued hostilities and keep receiving Western military and financial aid.

With his outrageously rude behaviour during his stay in Washington, Zelensky re-affirmed his status of the most dangerous threat to the international community as an irresponsible figure that can stir up a big war. It must be clear to everyone that this kind of attacks coming from a terrorist leader are quite unambiguous.

This cynical individual will stoop to anything in pursuit of his goals and is obsessed with preserving the power he has usurped. That is why he:

🔻 has destroyed the opposition,
🔻 built a totalitarian state,
🔻 ruthlessly sending millions of his fellow citizens to death.

Under the increasingly deteriorating political situation, this figure is unable to show a sense of responsibility and is therefore obsessed with continuing the war and rejects peace, which means death to him.

Unprecedented in history of international politics and diplomacy, a dressing down given to Zelensky by the US president in the White House is also indicative of the political weakness and extreme moral degradation of the European leaders who continue to support the maniac head of the Nazi regime who has lost touch with reality.

As before, we continue to operate on the premise that a truly just and durable peace is not possible unless the root causes of the Ukraine crisis are completely eliminated.

The main ones among them include:

🔻 the West breaking its promises not to expand NATO and the alliance’s absorption of Europe’s entire geopolitical space all the way up to Russia’s borders,
🔻 the Kiev regime’s systematic elimination of everything about Russia, including language, culture, and church, just like the German Nazis did in the past.

The demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine, as well as recognition of existing realities on the ground remain Russia’s unchanged objectives.

☝️ The sooner Kiev and the European capitals come to realise this, the closer to a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis we will be.

🎙️ Комментарий Посла России в Норвегии Н.В.Корчунова информагентству «ТАСС» (28 февраля 2025 г.)

❓В связи с анонсированным Д.Трампом введением 25-процентных пошлин на ввоз товаров из стран Евросоюза Премьер-министр Норвегии Й.Г.Стёре заявил о возможном начале «полномасштабной торговой войны между ЕС и США». Какими последствиями это грозит для Норвегии, которая не является членом ЕС?

💬 Н.В.Корчунов: Действительно, Осло оказался в некомфортном положении третьей стороны в конфликте между двумя своими главными союзниками и партнерами - США и ЕС. Неопределенность нервирует местные деловые круги и обывателей. Здесь боятся, что норвежская экономика получит «тройной удар»: сначала - непосредственно от таможенных барьеров США, затем - от ответных мер ЕС, наконец - от общего замедления мировой экономики. В результате может сократиться спрос на норвежские экспортные товары - нефть, газ, алюминий, а инфляция, напротив, ускорится.
Осло не без оснований рассчитывает договориться с ЕС, на который приходится примерно 2/3 норвежского экспорта, об изъятии Норвегии из-под действия возможных ответных мер. Евросоюз во многом зависит от поставок углеводородов с норвежского шельфа и едва ли захочет идти на обострение.
В свою очередь, мощное проесовское лобби в Норвегии пытается использовать ситуацию в своих интересах, целенаправленно нагнетая через СМИ панические настроения и предлагая решение - поспешить вступить в ЕС. Однако против оформления членства по-прежнему выступает солидное большинство норвежцев.
Норвегия с ее открытой и экспортно ориентированной экономикой обогатилась на процессах глобализации и либерализации мировых хозяйственных связей. В Осло, конечно, не заинтересованы в возведении торговых барьеров, тем более внутри западного блока. Однако о негативных последствиях разрушения целостности международной торговой системы следовало думать раньше, когда здесь присоединялись к нелегитимным односторонним санкциям и другим мерам недобросовестной экономической конкуренции, которые на протяжении многих лет активно применялись странами «коллективного Запада» против России, других геополитических соперников и просто неугодных государств. Теперь применение таких незаконных методов грозит вернуться бумерангом.

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🎙️ Kommentar fra Russlands Ambassadør i Norge Nikolay Korchunov til nyhetsbyrået TASS (28. februar 2025)

❓I forbindelse med Donald Trumps kunngjøring om 25 prosent toll på import av varer fra EU, har Norges statsminister Jonas Gahr Støre varslet at det kan bli «en full handelskrig mellom EU og USA». Hvilke konsekvenser truer dette Norge, som ikke er medlem av EU?

💬 Nikolay Korchunov: Oslo har faktisk havnet i den ubehagelige posisjonen som en tredje part i konflikten mellom sine to viktigste allierte og partnere – USA og EU. Usikkerheten gjør det norske næringslivet og vanlige folk urolige. De frykter at norsk økonomi vil få et «trippelskvis»: først - direkte fra USAs tollbarrierer, deretter - fra EUs mottiltak, og til slutt - fra den generelle nedgangen i verdensøkonomien. Som et resultat av dette kan etterspørselen etter norske eksportvarer - olje, gass, aluminium - synke, mens inflasjonen tvert imot vil øke.
Norge regner ikke uten grunn med å komme til enighet med EU, som står for ca. 2/3 av norsk eksport, om å unnta Norge fra eventuelle mottiltak. EU er i stor grad avhengig av leveranser av olje og gass fra norsk sokkel og vil neppe ønske å tilspisse situasjonen.
Den mektige EU-lobbyen i Norge forsøker på sin side å utnytte situasjonen i egen favør ved å målbevisst skape panikkstemning i mediene og tilby en løsning - å melde seg inn i EU snarest mulig. Et godt flertall av nordmenn er imidlertid fortsatt imot medlemskap.
Norge, med sin åpne og eksportorienterte økonomi, har blitt rikere av globaliseringen og liberaliseringen av de økonomiske relasjonene i verden. Oslo er selvsagt ikke interessert i å bygge opp handelsbarrierer, særlig ikke innenfor den vestlige blokken. Men de negative konsekvensene av å ødelegge integriteten til det internasjonale handelssystemet burde man ha tenkt på tidligere, da man sluttet seg til de ulovlige ensidige sanksjonene og andre tiltak rettet mot urettferdig økonomisk konkurranse, som i mange år har blitt aktivt brukt av landene i det «kollektive Vesten» mot Russland, andre geopolitiske rivaler og «uønskede» stater. Nå truer bruken av slike ulovlige metoder med å slå tilbake som en boomerang.

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🎙 Remarks by Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN Vassily Nebenzia prior to the UNGA Vote on a Draft Resolution on the 80th Anniversary of the end of #WWII

📍 New York, March 4, 2025

💬 Vassily Nebenzia: On behalf of the group of main cosponsors – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and my country, Russia – I have the honor to present the draft resolution A/79/L.51, ennoscriptd “Eightieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War”.

This year we will commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Victory over Nazism, fascism and Japanese militarism. In 1945, the ideals of goodness, justice and humanity triumphed over the ugliest manifestations of the ideology of racial superiority. Our world, the United Nations, its Charter, which is the bedrock for contemporary international law – all these are the outcomes of that Victory.

🕯 This Victory came at a high price. Thus, the peoples of the Soviet Union sacrificed 27 million people, China – 35 million, the United States – about half a million people; Serbia organized the largest anti-fascist resistance and partisan movement in Europe.

There were millions of losses among other members of the anti-Hitler coalition, and not only in Europe but also in Latin America and Asia. There were hostilities on the African continent as well. Furthermore, hundreds of thousands of African soldiers were sent to the European front. When they returned home, those heroes played an important role in launching the decolonization process.

☝️ The Victory was only possible owing to the unprecedented unity of the Powers and their peoples in the face of absolute evil. It was not by chance that the members of the anti-Hitler coalition dubbed themselves the United Nations. And as members of the international organization that bears precisely that name, we are bound today by our shared duty to honor the feat of our heroes and to remember both those who fell on the battlefields and the unprecedented sacrifices among civilians: we must remember all those who died from hunger, who were sent to gas chambers or shot in mass executions.

In order to honor the memory of the victims of World War II, the draft resolution provides for a special commemorative meeting of the UN General Assembly to be held during the second week of May, 2025, and establishes holding such meetings every five years thereafter.

In conclusion, allow me to express my deep gratitude to all the countries who co-sponsored the document, the broad geographical representation of these countries is the best indicator of the great importance of this memorable date for the international community.

👉 And we trust that this resolution will be adopted by consensus.

#Victory80 #WeRemember

👩‍🚀 On March 6, 1937, world’s first female cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova was born. To this day, she remains the youngest woman to travel into space, as well as the only woman who flew to the Earth’s orbit alone. She was only 26 years old back at the time of her historic flight.

From a young age, Valentina was interested in aviation and parachuting, which helped her join the cosmonaut corps in 1962. She underwent difficult training, learning how to pilot a spaceship and passing endurance tests. After completing her training, she was selected for a flight under the Vostok programme.

On June 16, 1963, Valentina Tereshkova set off on her historic journey on board the Vostok-6 spacecraft. Her mission lasted just under three days, in which she orbited the Earth 48 times.

💬 Tereshkova recalled her impressions on board:

Every 90 minutes I saw the dawn, the sun rising in a unique array of colours.

Despite all the difficulties, including severe fatigue and waning health, Tereshkova successfully completed her mission and returned safely to Earth. Valentina even managed to take a series of photographs of the horizon, which were later used to identify aerosol layers within the atmosphere.

Tereshkova’s space flight was a global sensation. Western media hailed it as another success of the Soviet space programme. For the United States, the USSR’s main rival in the space race, it was inconceivable. The American space agency did not take the idea of a woman flying into space seriously at the time.

🎖 Valentina Tereshkova boarded the spaceship as a lieutenant, and returned to Earth with the rank of captain. Three days after the landing, she was also awarded the noscript of Hero of the Soviet Union.

A Soviet woman’s flight to the orbit reaffirmed the Soviet Union’s leadership in space exploration and inspired millions of girls in our country and abroad.

🎊 We wish Valentina Tereshkova a very happy birthday. All the best to our iconic cosmonaut, and may you stay in good health and have strength for new achievements.