European Space Agency suspends cooperation with Russia on lunar programs

The Council of the European Space Agency (ESA) decided to refuse from further cooperation with Russia on lunar programs "Luna-25", "Luna-26," and "Luna-27".

This was stated in a press release by ESA, according to Ukrinform.

"ESA ceases cooperation with Russia on Luna-25, Luna-26 and Luna-27," the European Space Agency stated.

They noted that Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the sanctions imposed make cooperation with Russia on lunar programs impossible.

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ESA added that the ExoMars Rover mission will not be launched to Mars this September because cooperation with Roscosmos on ExoMars has been suspended.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian forces have been bombarding and shelling key infrastructure and residential neighborhoods across Ukraine.

The invaders wreaked mass terror on the temporarily occupied territories.

Western democracies have targeted Russia in several packages of powerful sanctions.