NASA directed five of the seven astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) at 1304 UTC, Friday (June 5) to shelter in the docked SpaceX Crew Dragon 'Freedom' spacecraft as a precautionary measure while two Russian cosmonauts attempted repairs on a worsening air leak.

"Out of an abundance of caution, NASA has directed all four of the agency's SpaceX Crew-12 members and NASA astronaut Chris Williams to assume an elevated safety posture in the Dragon spacecraft while the repair is underway," NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens said via X this morning. The order was lifted roughly two hours later after Roscosmos paused repair efforts to take additional measurements, confirming the situation did not immediately threaten crew safety.

The five astronauts -- Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, and Sophie Adenot (European Space Agency) from SpaceX’s Crew-12 mission, NASA astronaut Chris Williams -- donned spacesuits in the Dragon, to be ready for rapid evacuation. Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev remained in the Russian segment to perform the repairs. Their designated escape vehicle is the separately docked Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft.

The leak is located in the PrK transfer tunnel connecting the Russian Zvezda service module to a docking port. This area has suffered from microscopic structural cracks for over six years, with NASA previously classifying it as a top safety risk. Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, manages it through operational mitigation measures and periodic partial-repair efforts.

Stevens wrote "The Zvezda service module transfer tunnel, known as PrK, has suffered from cracks and leaks for some time, and has been mitigated by Roscosmos as much as possible to date. The cracks have always been a concern that NASA watches very closely.

"NASA and Roscosmos have been working to determine the root cause of the cracks, and Roscosmos manages the issue through operational mitigation measures and periodic partial-repair efforts.

Following new leaks, Roscosmos has elected to proceed with a more extensive repair operation on Friday, June 5.

"Out of an abundance of caution, NASA has directed all four of the agency's SpaceX Crew-12 members and NASA astronaut Chris Williams to assume an elevated safety posture in the Dragon spacecraft while the repair is underway.

We continue to work with our Russian counterparts, along with the rest of the international community that supports the space station, to arrive at a more permanent resolution."

After a period of stability earlier in 2026, sensors detected a fresh pressure drop following the arrival of the Progress 95 cargo ship in May. By early June, the leak rate had escalated to approximately one kilogram of air per day, prompting Roscosmos to attempt a more extensive repair operation using sealant and tools.

NASA lifted the shelter order about 2 hours later. "Roscosmos has paused Friday’s structural repair efforts inside the Zvezda service module transfer tunnel, known as PrK, as more measurements and data is assessed," Stevens wrote at 1457 UTC. "Given this development, NASA has instructed the crew members inside the Dragon spacecraft to end the safe haven procedures and return to planned operations aboard the International Space Station. We look forward to working with Roscosmos on a collaborative approach to address the leaks."

The PrK leak highlights the space station's advanced age. Construction of the complex began in 1998, and It has been continuously occupied by rotating astronaut crews since November 2000. And Zvezda is one of its older pieces: The module launched to orbit in July 2000. The orbital lab will operate potentially until 2032, giving more time for private successors to get up and running in low Earth orbit.

The four astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-12 mission -- Meir, Hathaway, Adenot and Fedyaev -- arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) in mid-February for a six-month stay. Williams flew with two crewmates on the Soyuz — Kud-Sverchkov and Mikaev.

Ukrainian long-range drones struck the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal and the Kronstadt naval base on Wednesday, igniting massive fires and damaging military assets just hours before the opening of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

The attacks targeted critical energy and military infrastructure in Russia's second-largest city, creating a visible backdrop of thick black smoke as international delegates arrived for the summit, often dubbed "Putin's Davos."

The targets included the JSC Petersburg Oil Terminal, one of the largest oil transshipment facilities on the Baltic Sea, which was set ablaze after drones bypassed air defenses. In the nearby city of Kronstadt, Ukrainian forces struck the naval base home to Russia's Baltic Fleet, with video evidence confirming a direct hit on the guided-missile corvette Boikiy while it was in dry dock for repairs.

Additional strikes reportedly hit a weapons factory in the Tambov region, part of what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as "long-range sanctions" designed to disrupt Russia's logistics and war economy.

The timing coincided with the start of SPIEF, a flagship event intended to showcase Russia's economic resilience, attended by approximately 20,000 guests from 130 countries. Notable attendees included a low-key US delegation led by Rodney Mims Cook Jr., former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, and popular American personalities such as podcaster Candace Owens.

The Ukranian assault forced the temporary closure of Pulkovo Airport and disrupted mobile internet services in St. Petersburg, while Russian authorities claimed to have intercepted over 350 drones across multiple regions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky labeled the operation a highly precise execution of Ukraine's "long-range sanctions" to disrupt Russia's war economy.

In response to the strikes, which followed earlier deadly Russian barrage on Kyiv that killed 23 people, the Kremlin promised "systemic" retaliation.

In immediate retaliation for the St. Petersburg strikes, Russian forces launched another wave of attacks. Dnipro, which was actively observing an official day of mourning for the victims of the previous day's attack, was struck again. A precision-guided Iskander-M ballistic missile directly struck a massive distribution and food storage warehouse belonging to ATB, Ukraine’s largest supermarket chain.

The strike entirely destroyed a vital hub of civilian food supply. Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov expressed immense frustration online, tying the event directly to the Kronstadt naval strike: "We hit their war corvette in Kronstadt. And they target ATB grocery warehouses in Dnipro."

The warehouse strike, combined with a secondary strike on an innovative Nova Poshta (postal service) logistics terminal and residential areas later that evening, injured at least 12 people in Dnipro, leaving three in critical condition.

Candace Owens Slams US Aid To Ukraine, In Remarks At SPIEF: Governments 'Should Encourage Big Families'

Meanwhile, Owens emerged as one of the headline foreign guests at SPIEF, participating in multiple sessions alongside high-ranking Russian officials like State Duma Deputy Chair Anna Kuznetsova and nationalist philosopher Aleksandr Dugin.

Owens was featured on panels addressing the "social sphere and new technologies," as well as sessions focused on family policy, titled "Balancing parenthood in a large family with a successful career."

The popular conservative commentator who was the event with her husband George Famer, criticized Western liberal social norms, claiming that institutional shifts in Western Europe and the United States have degraded traditional family structures and core civic values. She suggested her presence in Russia as an act of defiance against what she termed "globalist" censorship, praising alternative platforms that allow for non-Western-aligned perspectives.

Speaking directly to journalists on the sidelines of the forum, Owens directed her sharpest critiques toward U.S. foreign policy and financial commitments to Ukraine. "Ordinary Americans are growing increasingly fatigued by unchecked foreign aid spending while critical domestic issues are sidelined," the 37-year-old mother of 4, said.

Owens asserted that billions of American tax dollars are being funneled into a foreign conflict to sustain "oligarchical spending," arguing that the average U.S. citizen receives no benefit while domestic infrastructure, economic stability, and border security suffer. She argued that mainstream media narratives have artificially sustained the conflict against the true economic interests of the American public.

Also in the country, are controversial 'manosphere' influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate who made a highly publicized arrival at a Moscow airport, where they were greeted by traditional Russian folk dancers offering bread and salt. While the Tate brothers' presence sparked intense debate within Russia, their itinerary was focused heavily on filming content for international audiences and meeting with cultural figures.

Ukrainian long-range drones struck the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal and the Kronstadt naval base on Wednesday, igniting massive fires and damaging military assets just hours before the opening of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

The attacks targeted critical energy and military infrastructure in Russia's second-largest city, creating a visible backdrop of thick black smoke as international delegates arrived for the summit, often dubbed "Putin's Davos."

The targets included the JSC Petersburg Oil Terminal, one of the largest oil transshipment facilities on the Baltic Sea, which was set ablaze after drones bypassed air defenses. In the nearby city of Kronstadt, Ukrainian forces struck the naval base home to Russia's Baltic Fleet, with video evidence confirming a direct hit on the guided-missile corvette Boikiy while it was in dry dock for repairs.

Additional strikes reportedly hit a weapons factory in the Tambov region, part of what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as "long-range sanctions" designed to disrupt Russia's logistics and war economy.

The timing coincided with the start of SPIEF, a flagship event intended to showcase Russia's economic resilience, attended by approximately 20,000 guests from 130 countries. Notable attendees included a low-key US delegation led by Rodney Mims Cook Jr., former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, and popular American personalities such as podcaster Candace Owens.

The Ukranian assault forced the temporary closure of Pulkovo Airport and disrupted mobile internet services in St. Petersburg, while Russian authorities claimed to have intercepted over 350 drones across multiple regions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky labeled the operation a highly precise execution of Ukraine's "long-range sanctions" to disrupt Russia's war economy.

In response to the strikes, which followed earlier deadly Russian barrage on Kyiv that killed 23 people, the Kremlin promised "systemic" retaliation.

In immediate retaliation for the St. Petersburg strikes, Russian forces launched another wave of attacks. Dnipro, which was actively observing an official day of mourning for the victims of the previous day's attack, was struck again. A precision-guided Iskander-M ballistic missile directly struck a massive distribution and food storage warehouse belonging to ATB, Ukraine’s largest supermarket chain.

The strike entirely destroyed a vital hub of civilian food supply. Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov expressed immense frustration online, tying the event directly to the Kronstadt naval strike: "We hit their war corvette in Kronstadt. And they target ATB grocery warehouses in Dnipro."

The warehouse strike, combined with a secondary strike on an innovative Nova Poshta (postal service) logistics terminal and residential areas later that evening, injured at least 12 people in Dnipro, leaving three in critical condition.

Meanwhile, Owens emerged as one of the headline foreign guests at SPIEF, participating in multiple sessions alongside high-ranking Russian officials like State Duma Deputy Chair Anna Kuznetsova and nationalist philosopher Aleksandr Dugin.

Owens was featured on panels addressing the "social sphere and new technologies," as well as sessions focused on family policy, titled "Balancing parenthood in a large family with a successful career."

The popular conservative commentator who was the event with her husband George Famer, criticized Western liberal social norms, claiming that institutional shifts in Western Europe and the United States have degraded traditional family structures and core civic values. She suggested her presence in Russia as an act of defiance against what she termed "globalist" censorship, praising alternative platforms that allow for non-Western-aligned perspectives.

Speaking directly to journalists on the sidelines of the forum, Owens directed her sharpest critiques toward U.S. foreign policy and financial commitments to Ukraine. "Ordinary Americans are growing increasingly fatigued by unchecked foreign aid spending while critical domestic issues are sidelined," the 37-year-old mother of 4, said.

Owens asserted that billions of American tax dollars are being funneled into a foreign conflict to sustain "oligarchical spending," arguing that the average U.S. citizen receives no benefit while domestic infrastructure, economic stability, and border security suffer. She argued that mainstream media narratives have artificially sustained the conflict against the true economic interests of the American public.

Also in the country, are controversial 'manosphere' influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate who made a highly publicized arrival at a Moscow airport, where they were greeted by traditional Russian folk dancers offering bread and salt. While the Tate brothers' presence sparked intense debate within Russia, their itinerary was focused heavily on filming content for international audiences and meeting with cultural figures.