Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, Anna Kikina, and Andrey Fedyaev have sent a video greeting to Russians from the International Space Station to celebrate State Flag Day.
The video message was released on Telegram by Russia's space agency Roscosmos. In the recording, the crew members joined the nationwide Raise the Flag campaign taking place on Saturday and encouraged citizens across the country to participate.
Dubrov noted that the Russian tricolor is among the nation's primary state symbols. He explained that the national flag remains permanently aboard the orbital outpost at an altitude of more than 400 kilometres above Earth, adding that it is a great honour for the Russian crew to represent the symbol in space.
The International Space Station, a collaborative space laboratory orbiting in low Earth orbit, has been continuously inhabited since November 2000 and serves as a primary facility for microgravity research.
Symbol of Space Achievements
Kikina described the presence of the flag in space as a symbol of the achievements of domestic scientists and engineers, the overcoming of the boundaries of the possible, and a victory over gravity. She said the tricolor serves as a constant reminder of the Motherland for the crew while uniting all residents of Russia. She added that the cosmonauts strive to represent their country with honour on the station and remain part of the nation's space exploration history.
Fedyaev urged people across the country, regardless of where they live, to raise the flag as a symbol of unity and pride in their homeland. He expressed hope that the three colors of the flag would remind citizens of the strength of spirit and cohesion of the Russian people, while wishing everyone peace, goodness, and new heights both on Earth and beyond.
Celebrations in Moscow
The orbital greeting comes as landmark locations across Russia mark the annual holiday. Ahead of the celebrations, a skyscraper tower in the Moscow City commercial district was illuminated in the colors of the Russian tricolor.
Russia celebrates State Flag Day annually on August 22, commemorating the official symbol of the Russian Federation.
