Space exit: Putin ends Russia's ISS commitments - "decision has been made"

Created: 2022-07-27 05:44

Under Kremlin boss Putin: Russia wants to get out of the International Space Station ISS after 2024 © NASA / dpa

Russia, under Kremlin chief Putin, is still co-operating with the International Space Station (ISS).

That should change from 2024. 

Moscow - "The decision to leave the station after 2024 has been made": Russia will no longer participate in the operation of the International Space Station (ISS) after 2024.

"Of course we will fulfill all our obligations to our partners," said the new head of the space agency, Yuri Borissov.

Borissov said this during a televised meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Putin had previously installed Borisiv as the successor to Dmitry Rogozin at the head of the Russian space agency.

Russia sanctions because of the Ukraine war - but continued ISS cooperation

Rogozin had repeatedly questioned cooperation with the United States, also in view of the political tensions between Moscow and Washington in the wake of the Ukraine war.

After the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, the West imposed a series of sanctions on Russia.

However, the collaboration continued on the ISS.

Vladimir Putin: The political career of the Russian head of state in pictures

View photo gallery

Russia is getting out of the ISS - and wants to build its own space station by then

Borisov said that the construction of a Russian space station should start before the exit.

The ISS was getting on in years and had repeatedly caused a stir due to breakdowns.

Rogozin had previously not ruled out decoupling the Russian module from the ISS and continuing to operate it independently.

He also indicated a possible use of the station for military earth observation.

The ISS is a joint project of the USA, Canada, Japan, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Russia.

It is divided into a Russian and a US segment.