Facing "financial crisis," Russia on pace for lowest launch total in 6 decades

"We are in an ongoing process of emerging from financial crisis, and it's complicated; contract cancellations by unfriendly contacts cost Roscosmos 180 billion rubles ($2.1 billion US)."

"This has had disastrous effects on the Russian space program, but only recently have we gotten any insight into how deep those impacts have cut."

"At this pace, it appears that the country's space program is on pace for the fewest number of Russian or Soviet space launches in a year since 1961."

"The decision by Western space powers to distance themselves from Roscosmos after the invasion of Ukraine has severely impacted the program, prompting a search for recovery strategies."

Read at Ars Technica