'We now learn a lot from India': Russian envoy lauds feats India achieved in space exploration

Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov lauded the ties between India and Russia and said that Moscow is looking forward to welcoming the Indian delegation for the Victory Day celebrations. The monumental day commemorates the victory of the erstwhile Soviet Union over Nazi Germany on May 9, 1945, and is celebrated in Russia in its full glory.

The remarks from the Russian envoy came while he was inaugurating a bronze plaque featuring founders of cosmonautics Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Sergei Korolev and Yuri Gagarin to commemorate the 64th International Day of Human Space Flight.

The event was organised by the Russian House at the Russian Centre of Science and Culture in New Delhi. When asked by Firstpost about the upcoming Victory Day celebration in Russia, Ambassador Alipov emphasised the significance of the upcoming event.

“This year is very special. This year we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the great victory. We call it a great victory in Russia. 27 million perished in that war. Something that should never be repeated. And we will have big celebrations in Moscow on May 9th,” the Russian envoy told Firstpost.

He maintained that the Kremlin is looking forward to welcoming the Indian delegation in Moscow. “We will be happy to welcome a high-level Indian delegation. Whoever goes, we will welcome the defence minister. If the prime minister decides to go, we will certainly welcome
the prime minister,” Alipov said. “There will be many foreign top-level guests in Moscow on that day. Here, in India, we have a separate programme of celebrations. In many cities, not only in Delhi, an extended celebration with many functions and events,” he added.

Indians contributed a lot to that victory: Ambassador Alipov

While responding to Firstpost, Ambassador Alipov recalled the contribution India made during World War 2. “It is very important that on that day we will remember the victims of that war. Not only the people of the former Soviet Union, who bore the major branch of that war. But also the victims all over the world,” he said.

“It was the last global war that humankind suffered. Indians contributed a lot to the victory. Two and a half million Indian citizens and soldiers participated in that war. Many perished, all of them having contributed to the victory of the Allied forces. It will be a very momentous occasion for us to remember,” he furthered.

Russia is now learning a lot from India in space exploration: Amb Alipov

While addressing the gathering following the plaque inauguration ceremony, Ambassador Alipov called India one of the leaders in space exploration. He also emphasised that Russia is learning a lot from India in modern space exploration. “India is now one of the leaders in space exploration, and Russia now is learning a lot from India in space exploration. I think this is a very heartening and very notable matter, and I am absolutely sure that we will continue to cooperate in manned space exploration in various other areas, together with satellite navigation and many other areas,” he said.

The Russian ambassador elaborated on how Cosmonautics Day is a source of pride for Moscow. “This day is a source of national pride for Russia and is a powerful symbol of the shared aspiration to explore outer space in the spirit of peace, science and progress. Our achievements made Russia the leader in space exploration. Amongst such achievements is the first flight to space by an Indian cosmonaut, Rakesh Sharma in 1984, who joined a Soviet crew on board the Soyuz T-11 spacecraft,” he recalled.

“Rakesh Sharma became a rock-solid symbol of the legendary journey that our two friendly countries jointly undertake, and I would like also to remember such legends like Yuri Gagarin, for whom we are installing the plate today, and also Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, who was also a long-standing chairman of the Soviet and then Russia Friendship Society with foreign countries. I believe that we can dedicate today’s ceremony in her honour as well,” he concluded.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to represent India at Victory Day parade

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to attend Russia’s Victory Day parade on May 9. Prime Minister Narendra was invited to the event, but is unlikely to visit Russia, ANI reported. The Indian defence minister visited Russia in December last year for the commissioning of INS Tushil in Kaliningrad. During the trip, he also paid tribute at the ‘Tomb of the Unknown Soldier’ in Moscow to honour Soviet soldiers who died in World War II and met members of the Indian diaspora.

Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko told Tass News that Moscow had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the May 9 parade . He said the invitation had been sent and the visit was being discussed.

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the news. “We will announce our participation at the appropriate time," Jaiswal said at that time. In July last year, the prime minister travelled to Moscow for the 22nd India-Russia summit. It was his first visit to the country since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.