Official website of the President of Russia

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The President’s message reads, in particular:

“I congratulate you on the successful completion of the special air expedition to the South Pole.

For the first time in history, Russian Mi-8 helicopters have reached the South Pole and landed on the planet’s southernmost tip. Your flight has once again demonstrated the reliability of national aviation equipment and the extensive training of Russian pilots to the whole world. And the main thing your expedition confirmed is that Russia is rightly considered to be a great polar power. It is symbolic that your expedition took place at the beginning of the International Polar Year, an event that Russia helped initiate.

I wish you further successes and all the best”.