A commemorative cancellation ceremony for the 'Achievements of Russian Cosmonautics' postage stamp was held at the Russian Space Forum. The event was timed to coincide with Russian Space Week and the 65th anniversary of the first human space flight.
The ceremony was attended by Director General of the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities Dmitry Bakanov and CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of the Roscongress Foundation Alexander Stuglev, with JSC Marka CEO Veronika Maximenkova appearing as guest of honour.
Sixty-five years ago, on 12 April 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin broke free of Earth's gravity and completed the first orbital flight around the Earth, a 108-minute circumnavigation of the planet aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft. This is more than a historical fact — it is the starting point for a new era of humanity, and it was a Russian who did it.
"Today, at the first Russian Space Forum, I feel a special sense of pride for our country, and gratitude to all the people who have developed and continue to develop Russian cosmonautics. I remember learning about the history of cosmonautics in our country when I was a child, the names of preeminent scientists, rocket designers, test pilots, and production workers. The space-related events that are taking place across the country acquire particular significance this year — the 65th anniversary of the first human space flight. And today's commemorative postage stamp cancellation ceremony is similarly timed to coincide with this historical event, so that future generations will remember that we got there first!" — CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of the Roscongress Foundation Alexander Stuglev commented during the ceremony.
A special souvenir postmark with the date 9 April 2026 was produced especially for the commemorative stamps before being affixed to envelopes signed by the participants. Following the ceremony, commemorative souvenir frames containing the cancelled stamps were made. The stamp itself depicts the image of a cosmonaut peering out of the window of a spacecraft at a cluster of stars in deep space. The issue is limited to 168,000 stamps. The image was created by Sergey Ulyanovsky.
State postage stamps reflect history, culture, traditions, nature, landmark events, and family values, and fulfill the important and honourable mission of instilling a feeling of patriotism in young people and preserving historical memory for future generations.
Postage stamps dedicated to the achievements of Russian space exploration have already entered circulation. They can be purchased at post offices and "Collector" stores across the country and can be used to send mail within Russia and internationally.
The first Russian Space Forum has been organized by the Roscosmos State Corporation with the support of the Government of the Russian Federation, and is operated by the Roscongress Foundation. The Forum is being held as part of Space Week 2026.
