Russia Acknowledges Moon Probe Failure Due to Inability to Replace US Technology

Russia's Luna-25 mission, its first lunar expedition since 1976, failed due to a malfunction in the probe's control unit, according to Roscosmos. The malfunction in the BIUS-L angular velocity measuring unit caused the propulsion system to blast for longer than planned, resulting in the spacecraft colliding with the lunar surface. The admission suggests that Western-imposed sanctions played a role, as Russia struggled to replace imported technology. A source familiar with Russia's military tech import networks claimed that corruption in government agencies contributed to the failure, as attempts to procure critical technology from the US and allies were hindered by sanctions, leading to the use of domestically-produced alternatives.