Russia Positions Itself as a 'Major Space Power' in Asia, Africa, and Latin America - CPD

According to information provided by Ukrinform, the Center for Counteracting Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine reports that Russia is attempting to position itself as a 'major space power' in countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. This effort is being realized through the organization of various festivals, lectures, exhibitions, and educational events dedicated to the theme of space and the flight of Yuri Gagarin. These activities are carried out through the network of 'Rossotrudnichestvo' and the so-called 'Russian Houses', which indicates an active propaganda of Russian space achievements.

The Russian side presents these events under a 'scientific-educational' guise; however, in reality, they serve as a classic tool of 'soft power'. According to experts, the Kremlin is trying to shape a positive image of Russia in the eyes of the international community by promoting the myth of its 'technological greatness'. This reflects an attempt to 'sell' the world an image of Russia as a powerful space state, despite the real problems that exist in this sector.

It is worth noting that the actual state of the Russian space industry significantly differs from this propagandistic image. Due to imposed sanctions and enormous costs associated with waging war, Russia is rapidly losing its positions in the space industry. Technologies that were once considered advanced no longer meet modern requirements, and the human resource potential of the sector is also experiencing significant losses. The productivity of the Russian space industry has effectively returned to the levels of the 1960s, indicating serious issues in this field.

Furthermore, according to information from Ukrinform, there has been a sharp decline in the number of space launches in Russia. For instance, in 2025, the state corporation 'Roscosmos' managed to carry out only 17 rocket launches, which represents a significant decrease compared to previous years. This decline in the number of launches is a troubling signal for the Russian space industry and demonstrates its inability to maintain former levels of operation.

Thus, despite active efforts by Russia to promote its image as a space power in other regions of the world, the actual state of affairs in this sector raises serious doubts. The continuation of such initiatives may indicate the Kremlin's desire to conceal its own problems and create an illusion of success that is, in fact, far from reality. It remains to be seen how upcoming developments in this area will affect Russia's international reputation.