President Putin Fulfills Schoolgirl's Cosmonaut Dream Through 'New Year Tree of Wishes' Event

Presidential Call Fulfills Childhood Dream

On December 25, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with ten-year-old Varvara Smakhtina, a participant in the 'New Year Tree of Wishes' charity event. The call marked the culmination of Varvara's dream to meet a cosmonaut, a wish that President Putin personally selected to fulfill.

Varvara's Journey into Space Exploration

Varvara's extraordinary experience began on December 24, her birthday, when she visited the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City. There, she received a personal tour from Pilot-Cosmonaut and Hero of Russia Oleg Kononenko. During her visit, she explored the Soyuz manned spacecraft simulator, saw the historic Zvezdny bus used to transport cosmonauts, and even viewed Yury Gagarin's Volga automobile. That same evening, Varvara and her family attended The Nutcracker ballet at the renowned Bolshoi Theatre.

The following day, December 25, Varvara's journey continued at the Mission Control Centre. She participated in a live communications session with the crew of the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS), speaking directly with cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikayev, and Oleg Platonov. At the Mission Control Centre, the Smakhtin family also received New Year's greetings from the Russian Father Frost from Veliky Ustyug. Additionally, Dmitry Bakanov, General Director of the Roscosmos State Corporation, presented Varvara with a personalized flight suit bearing her name.

Conversation with the President

Following her immersive experience, Varvara shared her impressions with President Putin during their telephone conversation. The President also extended his warm New Year wishes to Varvara's mother, Valeria, and the entire family.

The 'New Year Tree of Wishes' Initiative

The 'New Year Tree of Wishes' is an All-Russian charity campaign that has been held annually since 2018. Organized by the Movement of the First with the support of Rosmolodezh.Dobro, its primary goal is to bring joy and a sense of New Year's magic to children facing difficult life situations. President Vladimir Putin traditionally participates in the initiative, selecting several children's wishes to fulfill each year. This year, he selected three wishes on December 8, including Varvara's, from the New Year tree installed at the International RUSSIA EXPO. Over the past six years, the campaign has successfully fulfilled more than 210,000 children's New Year's wishes across Russia.