NASA criticizes Russia for using the space station to stage propaganda photos
Regardless of the outcome of the Ukraine invasion and US-Russian relations, the long-term future of the International Space Station (ISS) is likely to be limited.
NASA criticizes Russia for using the space station to stage propaganda photos
Regardless of the outcome of the Ukraine invasion and US-Russian relations, the long-term future of the International Space Station (ISS) is likely to be limited.

NASA has criticized the Russian space agency for using the International Space Station (ISS) to take propaganda photos related to its invasion of Ukraine.

The photos show three Russian cosmonauts holding up the flags of two regions of eastern Ukraine that had been captured by Russian military forces, prompting the US space agency to issue a “strong rebuke”.

The stunt was described as “fundamentally inconsistent with the station’s primary function among the 15 international participating countries to advance science and develop technology for peaceful purposes” by NASA.

Despite the escalating ground conflict between Washington and Moscow, cooperation in low-Earth orbit has largely continued with little challenge from the US to its Russian partners, although Roscosmos’ chief executive has repeatedly threatened to withdraw cooperation.

Roscosmos on Monday published photos of cosmonauts raising the flags of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic and the Donetsk People’s Republic, which are not recognized by the international community.

There is concern that the diplomatic fallout from the war in Ukraine could undermine the international cooperation needed to keep the ISS in orbit and astronauts safe.

NASA previously told Sky News that despite heated exchanges and deteriorating relations on Earth, cooperation between Russia and the US on the ISS will continue.