Russia has launched its first lunar mission in nearly 50 years, aiming to achieve a soft landing on the moon's south pole. The Luna-25 spacecraft was successfully launched from the Vostochny spaceport in the Far East. This mission puts Russia in competition with India, as both countries are racing to be the first to reach the moon's south pole.

The Luna-25 is expected to reach the moon on August 23, the same day as the Indian craft which was launched on July 14. The craft will take samples of moon rock and dust to better understand the lunar environment before any potential future base construction.

This mission holds significant geopolitical importance, as it represents political competition between superpowers like China, the USA, and several other countries vying for the title of space superpower.

The goal for Russia is not only scientific exploration but also to recover lost expertise from the Soviet era and assert national power on the global stage.