Russian space authorities have withdrawn veteran cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev from the upcoming SpaceX Crew-12mission, replacing him just months before launch in a move that has drawn international attention. Roscosmos attributed the decision to a routine “reassignment”, yet multiple sources in the United States and Russia indicate the change followed a security-related incident during Artemyev’s training at SpaceX’s Hawthorne facility in California — as reported by The WP Times, citing nume.ch.
According to independent reporting from Russian investigative outlets and defence analysts, the 54-year-old cosmonaut allegedly photographed internal technical materials while undergoing standard pre-mission familiarisation at the SpaceX site. The nature of the images has not been disclosed, but the content is reported to fall under the strict US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which govern the handling and transfer of sensitive aerospace and defence-related information.
Analyst Georgy Trishkin, who monitors global launch operations, told investigators that “an interdepartmental review has been initiated”, adding that the removal of an experienced crew member so close to launch “is consistently associated with a significant operational concern”. There has been no independent confirmation from US authorities, and neither NASA nor SpaceX has commented.
Roskosmos, for its part, has limited its communication to a brief statement confirming Artemyev’s replacement by cosmonaut Andrey Fedyayev. No medical, technical or disciplinary explanation has been offered. The absence of detail is noteworthy in a sector where international collaboration demands unusually high transparency to maintain safety planning and mission integrity.
Artemyev is among Russia’s most seasoned space professionals. He has completed three long-duration missions aboard the International Space Station, has logged 560 days in orbit, and has served as a member of the Moscow City Dumasince 2019. His removal from a mission already in the advanced phase of preparation marks a rare disruption in the routine coordination between Roscosmos and its Western partners.
With official statements remaining scarce, the precise circumstances of Artemyev’s withdrawal — and whether a formal ITAR review is under way — remain unclear. The situation continues to be monitored by international agencies, although no timetable for further disclosures has been given.
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