# Russian cosmonauts wave Tricolour aboard ISS for India’s 80th I-Day

2026-08-10T11:07:37+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station have greeted India ahead of its 80th Independence Day, holding the Indian tricolour and highlighting decades of space cooperation between the two countries. Cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov wished peace and prosperity, noting India broke free from colonial rule and chose self-reliance. The message linked the occasion to 65 years since Yuri Gagarin's first spaceflight and his 1961 visit to India. The cosmonauts recalled milestones: the Soviet Union launching India's first satellite Aryabhata in 1975, Rakesh Sharma flying on Soyuz T-11 in 1984, and the current Gaganyaan programme. Indian astronauts have trained in Russia. Cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev ended with "Long live India-Russia friendship."

## Coverage

- hindustantimes.com <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/tricolour-aboard-iss-as-russian-cosmonauts-greet-india-on-independence-day-101786353553360.html>
- news.abplive.com <https://news.abplive.com/news/russian-cosmonauts-hold-tricolour-greet-india-ahead-of-80th-independence-day-1861373>

Tags: Gaganyaan, Independence Day, ISRO, Roscosmos, Russia-India ties, space cooperation
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