Russian cosmonauts Sergei Prokopiev, Dmitry Petelin and Anna Kikina aboard the International Space Station marked the approaching Russian New Year with a warm, broadcasted message that reached audiences back home and across the space community. The team sent a video greeting via the telegraph channel of the State Corporation Roscosmos, sharing a moment of shared celebration while orbiting Earth in a microgravity environment that both challenges and inspires daily life on the station.
In his remarks, crew commander Sergei Prokopiev extended wishes to the citizens of the Russian Federation, hoping for warmth in their souls, lasting happiness, and the boldness to continue moving forward and creating. The message reflected a blend of personal resolve and national pride, underscoring how exploration and civic spirit can converge in a moment of holiday cheer that travels from space to ground.
Anna Kikina added that the New Year is a time when both adults and children hold onto the belief in miracles. She emphasized that the cosmonauts share this festive mood with loved ones on the eve of the holiday, and with those who may be facing difficulties at the moment. The sentiment highlighted a universal theme of hope and connection that transcends distance, especially during a milestone like a New Year celebrated far above the planet.
Dmitry Petelin reflected on the holiday as a family moment and offered a wish for Russians to experience a sense of unity and familial warmth that strengthens social bonds. His message treated the New Year as a chance to reaffirm friendship, collaboration, and the mutual care that keeps communities resilient in trying times.
As the greetings concluded, the three cosmonauts joined together in a jubilant chorus, shouting a united wish of joy and well being: Happy Birthday, they proclaimed in a lighthearted nod to celebrations that accompany the turning of a new calendar year. The moment captured a blend of celebratory tone and human connection that resonates with audiences around the world who view spaceflight as a shared human achievement.
On December 29, it was reported that the Russian cosmonauts graced the ISS in zero gravity as they prepared for the upcoming New Year’s Eve. The demonstration of life aboard a space station during a holiday period offered a rare glimpse into how traditions travel and evolve when people are living in a lab orbiting Earth, still bound to family, country, and the broader human narrative of exploration.
Earlier, during the New Year’s greetings to military personnel, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke about how the last year presented serious trials that altered the usual course of time. He noted that in the current climate, the New Year has taken on a symbol of hope for a peaceful future, serving as a reminder that endurance, discipline, and resolve can guide a nation through uncertainty and toward a more stable horizon for its citizens and allies alike.