Veteran Russian astronaut Oleg Artemyev has been withdrawn from the upcoming NASA-led SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) following allegations that he violated international arms trafficking laws.
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Artemyev, 54, was reportedly accused of photographing classified documents and rocket equipment at SpaceX’s Hawthorne, California facility in late November and attempting to remove the information on his phone. The alleged actions, if proven, would constitute a breach of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), a set of U.S. government rules controlling the transfer of sensitive defense-related technologies, spacecraft components, and technical data.
Russia’s official space agency, Roscosmos, cited “Artemyev’s transfer to another job” as the reason for his removal. However, Russian media reports and investigative outlet The Insider suggest the move stems from serious legal concerns, with an international investigation reportedly launched into the alleged incident.
Artemyev has been replaced on the Crew-12 mission by fellow cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The mission, scheduled for early 2026, had no official announcements regarding the personnel change from NASA or SpaceX.
Experts note that while there are currently no claims that the incident was intended to harm the United States, it could amount to espionage if Artemyev’s actions were intended to benefit a foreign government. Space industry analyst Georgy Trishkin called the alleged violation “serious” and noted ITAR breaches carry both civil and criminal penalties.
NASA and SpaceX have not publicly commented on the allegations, and Russian reports indicate Artemyev has already departed the United States while authorities continue their investigation.
