Dear ASTRA readers

Hi! This is Nastya Chumakova, the creator and editor-in-chief of Astra. Personally, the year 2025 “gifted” me a criminal record for my work, the search, the inclusion in the list of “extremists”, the search of relatives, their interrogations, and a lot of thinking about whether I did everything right. But besides that, it also brought the support of colleagues, a feeling of happiness from his favorite business, and, of course, your attention and even care.

Previously, I would never have thought that a small media outlet, created by desperate enthusiasts, would be able to unite and gather around itself so many thousands of incredible people. Sometimes, in moments of despair or sadness, I just open the folder with your letters to the editor, wishes, and thanks, and I blossom — first of all, from realizing how many good people there are in this world.

This means that there is hope, it shines like a small guiding star, looms somewhere far away and leads, no matter how hard it sometimes is. May this star of hope always shine for you. No matter how difficult it may be sometimes, know that Astra will not only provide you with important and timely news 24/7, but will also support and warm you up. We are always in touch, we love and appreciate you. I am incredibly happy that we have such readers.