Russia’s Luna-25 probe, their first moon mission in nearly 50 years, crashed on the lunar surface during pre-landing maneuvers, as confirmed by the Russian space agency Roscosmos on Sunday. The lander collided with the Moon and ceased to exist. Efforts to locate and establish contact with the craft were unsuccessful. An investigation into the crash’s causes will be initiated. Luna-25 was intended to continue Russia’s lunar exploration legacy, with a planned soft landing on the lunar south pole, a historic milestone. This attempt marked Russia’s return to autonomous lunar exploration amidst increasing Western isolation. The last Russian celestial body landing was in 1989. Roscosmos had acknowledged the mission’s riskiness, estimating a 70 percent chance of success.