🚀 Islamabad Marks the 65th Anniversary of the First Human Spaceflight!
On April 12, the Russian Embassy in Pakistan organized a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument to Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in Fatima Jinnah Park of Islamabad.
The ceremony was attended by Ambassador Albert P. Khorev, Additional Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Ayesha Ali, Ambassadors of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, Russian Defense Attaché Colonel Vadim Fenchenko, Russian Trade Representative Denis Nevzorov, as well as officials from the CDA and SUPARCO.
The event was also attended by Embassy staff, Russian community and Pakistani academia.
❗️In his remarks, Albert P. Khorev emphasized that Yuri Gagarin’s flight ushered in a new chapter in human history – the era of the Universe exploration. It became a powerful symbol of humanity’s determination to reach new heights in intellectual and technological advancement, to overcome any obstacle on the path toward the most ambitious and noble goals.
"The successful launch of the Vostok-1 spacecraft was made possible by the selfless and tireless efforts of millions of Soviet citizens – the brotherly peoples of the former Soviet republics – who devoted their lives to serving their Motherland. Victory in the space race was forged through the collective endeavor of Soviet statesmen, scientists, and workers."
🇷🇺🇵🇰 Additional Foreign Secretary Ayesha Ali, on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, thanked the Russian Embassy for organizing the event and highlighted the steadily developing bilateral dialogue between Moscow and Islamabad.
“Pakistan attaches great importance to its multifaceted relations with Russia. Over the years, our two countries have steadily expanded cooperation in diverse fields, including energy, regional connectivity, education and cultural exchanges. Shared commemorations do not only honor historic milestones, but also strengthen the bonds of friendship and mutual respect between Pakistan and Russia.”
The Russian Embassy in Pakistan expresses its gratitude to the International Charitable Public Foundation “Dialogue of Cultures – United World” and the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange for providing the bust of Yuri Gagarin and supporting the construction of the monument.
#Gagarin65#FirstInSpace
6️⃣5️⃣years since Yuri Gagarin’s historic space feat!
🚀On April 12, 1961, the Vostok launch vehicle lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. This momentous event marked the culmination of the efforts of millions of Soviet citizens – design engineers, scientists, military pilots, doctors, specialists across a wide range of fields, and entire branches of industry. Inside the cramped cabin of the crewed spacecraft was Senior Lieutenant Yuri Gagarin.
At 9:07 am, the four metal arms holding the 287-tonne rocket retracted, and Vostok began its lift-off. It was at that very moment that Gagarin’s famous “#POYEKHALI!”(*Let’s go!) rang out over the radio.
At 9:12 am, the spacecraft separated from the launch vehicle and entered the Earth's orbit. Its speed reached 28,260 kilometres per hour – nearly 8 kilometres per second. Never before had a human travelled so fast.
🎙Just as the spacecraft reached Earth's orbit, Yuri Levitan – the USSR’s iconic radio announcer – solemnly declared to the world:
This is Moscow speaking! The time in Moscow is 10:02 am. We are broadcasting a TASS report on the first human flight into outer space.
On April 12, 1961, the Soviet Union launched into orbit around the Earth the world’s first spacecraft-satellite, Vostok, with a man on board.
The pilot-cosmonaut is a citizen of the USSR, Air Force Major Yuri Gagarin (the extraordinary rank was conferred by Order No. 77 of the USSR Minister of Defence, dated April 12, 1961).
While in orbit, Gagarin recorded his observations and transmitted them back to Earth. Before him lay the planet as no one had ever seen it before: the curve of the horizon, the luminous blue edge of the atmosphere, coastlines, mountain ranges, vast landmasses – all set against the bottomless black void of space.
Almost 90 minutes into the flight, the spacecraft began its descent. At that moment, a highly dangerous emergency arose: the descent module failed to separate immediately from the equipment module. However, as the spacecraft re-entered the dense layers of the atmosphere, the connecting cables between the two sections burned through due to friction, and the descent continued.
At 10:42 am, at an altitude of 7 km, the cosmonaut ejected.
At 10:53 am, Yuri Gagarin landed safely in a field near the city of Engels, around 4 km from the present-day bank of the Volga.
On April 14, 1961, by Decree No. 251/22 of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, Yuri Gagarin was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union, together with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.
Two days later, the people of Moscow welcomed the space traveller to the Soviet capital with flowers and celebratory banners. By the end of April, Earth’s first cosmonaut embarked on an international tour to share what he had witnessed with people around the world. In the two years following this historic event, Yuri Gagarin visited more than 30 countries, where he was honoured as a true hero. The tour became unofficially known as the “Mission of Peace”.
***
1️⃣0️⃣6️⃣minutes of Yuri Gagarin's flight changed the course of world history.
Just 16 years after the most devastating and bloodiest war in human history, the Soviet people achieved what had only recently seemed impossible – opening the way to space for all humankind.
***
💬 As President Vladimir Putin noted in his message to the participants in the first Russian Space Forum on April 9, 2026:
Yuri Gagarin's spaceflight became one of the great events of the 20th century and opened a new era in the history of human civilisation.
We are sincerely proud of several generations of talented scientists, designers, cosmonauts, military personnel and civilian specialists who stood at the origins of the national space programme and wrote bright, heroic pages in the chronicle of its victories and achievements.
🇺🇳 Since 2011, April 12 has been observed as the International Day of Human Space Flight, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly under resolution A/RES/65/271 in honour of Yuri Gagarin’s legendary mission.
#Gagarin65#FirstInSpace
🛰️ Ко Дню космонавтики России
12 апреля1961 г. Юрий Алексеевич Гагарин впервые в истории человечества отправился в космос на корабле «Восток-1». Его полёт длился 108 минут и стал настоящим прорывом
Это грандиозное достижение стало возможным благодаря работе советских учёных и инженеров. СССР не только первым отправил человека в космос, но и в 1957 г. запустил первый искусственный спутник Земли. Огромную роль в этих успехах сыграл С.П.Королёв — главный конструктор "Востока" и вдохновитель советской космонавтики
Это событие открыло новую эру для человечества — эру освоения Вселенной. Оно вдохновило целые поколения учёных, инженеров и мечтателей по всему миру на новые открытия и технологии
В ноябре 1968 г. на конференции Международной авиационной федерации приняли решение утвердить 12 апреля как Всемирный день авиации и космонавтики. А 7 апреля 2011 г. Генассамблеей ООН была принята резолюция, провозгласившая 12 апреля Международным днем полета человека в космос
#ДеньКосмонавтики#ЮрийГагарин#firstinspace
“Having orbited Earth in a spaceship, I saw for the first time how beautiful our planet is.
People, let us preserve and increase this beauty and not destroy it!”
— Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin
🚀 The world changed forever in those moments when Vostok-1 launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, and Yuri #Gagarin became the first person in history to enter Earth’s orbit and circle our planet. This collective feat of the entire Soviet Union, its scientists, and cosmonauts marked the beginning of the space era in human history.
🌏 Before the launch of the spacecraft, Yuri Gagarin addressed the people of the entire planet with these inspiring words:
“Dear friends, both familiar and unknown, compatriots, people of all countries and continents!
In just a few minutes, a mighty spacecraft will carry me into the vast expanses of the universe. What can I say to you in these final moments before the launch?
My entire life now seems to me like one beautiful moment. Everything I have lived through and accomplished was done for the sake of this moment.
Am I happy to be embarking on this spaceflight? Of course, I am! After all, throughout history, it has been the highest happiness for people to participate in new discoveries.
Now, only a few minutes remain until the launch. I want to say goodbye to you, my dear friends, as people always say to each other when setting off on a long journey. How I wish I could embrace you all — both those I know and those I don’t, those far away and those close by!
Until we meet again!”
#CosmonauticsDay#Gagarin#FirstInSpace
“Having orbited Earth in a spaceship, I saw for the first time how beautiful our planet is.
People, let us preserve and increase this beauty and not destroy it!”
— Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin
🚀 The world changed forever in those moments when Vostok-1 launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, and Yuri #Gagarin became the first person in history to enter Earth’s orbit and circle our planet. This collective feat of the entire Soviet Union, its scientists, and cosmonauts marked the beginning of the space era in human history.
🌏 Before the launch of the spacecraft, Yuri Gagarin addressed the people of the entire planet with these inspiring words:
“Dear friends, both familiar and unknown, compatriots, people of all countries and continents!
In just a few minutes, a mighty spacecraft will carry me into the vast expanses of the universe. What can I say to you in these final moments before the launch?
My entire life now seems to me like one beautiful moment. Everything I have lived through and accomplished was done for the sake of this moment.
Am I happy to be embarking on this spaceflight? Of course, I am! After all, throughout history, it has been the highest happiness for people to participate in new discoveries.
Now, only a few minutes remain until the launch. I want to say goodbye to you, my dear friends, as people always say to each other when setting off on a long journey. How I wish I could embrace you all — both those I know and those I don’t, those far away and those close by!
Until we meet again!”
#CosmonauticsDay#Gagarin#FirstInSpace
“Having orbited Earth in a spaceship, I saw for the first time how beautiful our planet is.
People, let us preserve and increase this beauty and not destroy it!”
— Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin
🚀 The world changed forever in those moments when Vostok-1 launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, and Yuri #Gagarin became the first person in history to enter Earth’s orbit and circle our planet. This collective feat of the entire Soviet Union, its scientists, and cosmonauts marked the beginning of the space era in human history.
🌏 Before the launch of the spacecraft, Yuri Gagarin addressed the people of the entire planet with these inspiring words:
“Dear friends, both familiar and unknown, compatriots, people of all countries and continents!
In just a few minutes, a mighty spacecraft will carry me into the vast expanses of the universe. What can I say to you in these final moments before the launch?
My entire life now seems to me like one beautiful moment. Everything I have lived through and accomplished was done for the sake of this moment.
Am I happy to be embarking on this spaceflight? Of course, I am! After all, throughout history, it has been the highest happiness for people to participate in new discoveries.
Now, only a few minutes remain until the launch. I want to say goodbye to you, my dear friends, as people always say to each other when setting off on a long journey. How I wish I could embrace you all — both those I know and those I don’t, those far away and those close by!
Until we meet again!”
#CosmonauticsDay#Gagarin#FirstInSpace
🚀 LET YOUR CREATIVITY ORBIT INFINITY🚀
This year marks the 65th anniversary of humanity’s first journey into space – a historic milestone achieved by Yuri Gagarin, the Soviet cosmonaut and the first man to orbit Earth.
To celebrate, the Russian Embassy in South Africa is launching a creative competition that honours imagination, courage, and the spirit of exploration.
Theme: Be as limitless as the universe
🌌 Show us what “limitless” means to you – through art, design, or any creative expression.
❓Who can participate?
We welcome artists of all ages across three categories:
• Up to 8 years old
• 8–14 years old
•14+ years old
❓How to participate:
• Create your artwork using any materials or techniques – drawing, painting, digital art, collage, or even AI tools, you can even write a poem, record a dance or a song (create beyond the stars)
• Make sure your work reflects the theme “Be as limitless as the universe”. If your work mentions Yuri Gagarin and his feat – even better!
•Post your artwork on social media
•Tag the Russian Embassy’s account in your post to enter the competition
🤩 Let your imagination travel as far as the stars – and beyond.
📌 Deadline is 30 April,s prizes for each category will be space-related and brought from Russia!
Just like the universe – you are limitless!
#RussiaInSpace#FirstInSpace#RussianSpaceWeek2026