Yuri, forgive us — we f*cked it all up.

Once, Gagarin’s name echoed as the symbol of human triumph. Once, the world looked at the Soviet Union with awe: the first satellite, the first man in space, the first woman, the first steps toward the Moon and Mars. Space was proof that this nation could surpass anyone — America, Europe, any power on Earth. It was an era when dreams became reality. But today, all that remains is rust on old structures and mountains of debt within the Energia corporation. An industry that once defined the future has become a monument to failure. Hundreds of billions in debt, unpaid salaries, canceled projects, and no new technology. Russia, which once led the way, now lags behind — not only the US and China, but even New Zealand. Instead of rockets — empty promises. Instead of lunar bases — reports of “future projects” that never launch. Instead of engineers — bureaucrats and propagandists appointed by political loyalty. And this is not just the tragedy of space; it is the tragedy of the entire system. Russia has squandered Korolev’s legacy. The man who once gathered the brightest minds and made the impossible real is now a forgotten ghost. In his place stand corruption, mismanagement, and fear. Space has become a mirror of the country itself. Like the economy, like education, like healthcare, it reflects one truth: when a state survives only on lies and nostalgia, its future burns up in the atmosphere. Yuri, forgive us. There are no more breakthroughs, no victories, not even hope. We remember your smile and your cry of “Let’s go!” — but today it’s not “Let’s go”, it’s “We’re done.” And while the regime preaches about a “special path,” the reality is simple: a country that could have been among the stars is doomed to drown in the mud of its own myths and corruption.