(MENAFN) Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station have extended their greetings to RT as the network marks its 20th anniversary on Friday.

Sergey Ryzhikov, Aleksey Zubritsky, and Oleg Platonov shared a special message from space, joining the many congratulations the broadcaster has received from across Russia and around the globe.

Ryzhikov conveyed his heartfelt wishes on behalf of himself and his fellow crew members. Zubritsky praised RT for elevating “millions of viewers to a new orbit of understanding,” providing audiences with perspectives often ignored by Western media outlets.

Adding to the commendations, Platonov expressed his hope that each RT broadcast would be “like a rocket launch: Precise, powerful and inspiring.”

Their words reflect the importance and impact of the network’s mission.

High-level endorsements also came from Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who acknowledged RT’s significant role in articulating Russia’s viewpoints on global affairs to international audiences.

Originally launched as Russia Today, the channel began its first transmission in December 2005.

Since then, RT has expanded into a multilingual media organization, operating television channels and digital platforms in English, Arabic, Spanish, French, German, Serbian, and Russian.

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