Yuri Gagarin in Moldova & more.

Yuri Gagarin's visit on the 500th anniversary of the capital city's founding.

Jan 12, 2024

This post gathers some little known information about the first cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, including his visit to Moldova.

Yuri Gagarin in Cricova, Moldova

The Cricova winery near Chisinau, Moldova is world famous for the quality of its wines, and the extensive cave system is over 120 km long, providing perfect temperatures and humidity for storing and maturing wines.

Some of the many, many barrels in the cave complex.

There are several elegant tasting rooms, and I got to try some of the wines in the European tasting room, as used by Yuri Gagarin on his visit.

After his historic spaceflight, he toured the world as a symbol of the superiority of the Soviet system. This frequently involved large amounts of alcohol, not least because everyone wanted a drink with him, and in Russian culture it would be very rude to refuse. There are also reports that he began to find the role frustrating, particularly when it was suggested that he was too important to risk on another spaceflight.

So that’s the background to the story told by tour guides of his visit, when he apparently “tasted” wine for 2 days continuously before being carried out…

However, this story really does not stand up to close examination - it seems that he arrived late in the evening, and left after midnight, and the different dates gave rise to the “two days” interpretation.

He clearly enjoyed his visit though, and they proudly display a letter from him, with a photo, thanking them for their hospitality, and congratulating Cricova on the quality of their wines.

And here’s that letter, shown more clearly:

Here is the text of the letter, in Russian:

В этих подвалах большое изобилие замечательных вин. Пожалуй придирчивый человек найдет здесь вино по своему вкусу.

Позвольте пожелать вам заполнить существующие подвалы Обилием медалей за замечательные вина. Если для этого не хватит металла на Земле, Обязуюсь доставить с Луны или других планет. Большое спасибо работникам сельского хозяйства и виноделам за ваш благородный труд.

Гагарин 18.9.1966

And here in English.

In these cellars is a great abundance of wonderful wine. Even the most fastidious person will find here wine to their liking.

I wish you to fill the existing caves with an abundance of medals for excellent wines. If there is not enough metal on the Earth, metal will be delivered from the moon and other planets.

Many thanks to agricultural workers and winemakers for your noble work.

Gagarin 18/09/1966

Yuri Gagarin at the Stadium.

There’s a short video off him at Chisinau Stadium, being mobbed by children! I read that he refused to go to the stadium until cars were found to bring all the children he made friends with too, and this seems to confirm it!

This web site has many photos from Yuri’s visit, it’s well worth a look. Here’s the original in Russian:

Click Here

And this link has built-in computer translation to English:

Click Here

Yuri also attended a wedding in Cojusna as the guest of honour, where he was warmly welcomed, though some reports suggest things got a bit chaotic, as his entourage had no idea what to expect at a traditional Moldovan wedding.

Historical Documents:

Gagarin’s admission to the cosmonaut team.

Here are the two pages listed the candidates accepted for the first batch of cosmonaut candidates. The introduction reads:

“In accordance with the programme of human preparation for space flight, the students of the Air Force Cosmonaut Training Centre are to begin studying the Vostok-3 facility at the end of July this year.

I would like to ask your permission for admission to the study of top secret special equipment, as well as admission to the territory and workshops of OKB-1, where part of the practical training will be conducted, of the following items of the BBC CPC.”

Gagarin’s Training Assessment.

Senior lieutenant Gagarin Yuri Alekseevich.

Born in 1934, native of the Smolensk Oblast, Gzhatskiy district, Klushino, Russian, Russian, from the Smolensk Oblast.

Graduated from Industrial Technical School in 1955, graduated from Chkalov Military Aviation School in 1957, has been in the Army since 1955. Married, has a daughter.

Physical development is good. Height 165 cm, weight 68 kg.

Athlete-squad competitor in basketball. Possesses good coordination of movements. State of health is good. In 1960 was not sick. Special types of training (flights, parachute training, exercises on a centrifuge and on other stands) is easily tolerated, with normal physiological reaction of an organism. Intellectual development is high. Emotional reactions correspond to the nature of the influencing stimuli. Volitional processes are stable.

Sociability, optimism, healthy humour prevail in the personality structure. Disciplined, competent officer.

Relates to the issues of service conscientiously. Dress code and appearance are good. He is sociable with his comrades, polite in treatment, As a fighter pilot he is positively characterised. He is a military pilot of the 3rd class. Total 257 hours of flight time. Has 41 parachute jumps, the quality is good. General theoretical training is good. He learns the material easily. Passes credits with a total score of 4.8. By character calm, cheerful. Criticism is accepted correctly. Treats the team with respect Actively participates in the social life of the unit.

Politically developed, ideologically stable, able to keep military secrets. military secrets. Devoted to the Party and socialist Motherland. During his stay at the Centre, he proved himself to be as one of the most prepared students.

Gagarin’s Promotion to Major.

Order of the Minister of Defence of the USSR, Marshal of the Soviet Union R.Ya. Malinovsky, dated April 12, 1961, on awarding senior lieutenant Yu.A. Gagarin the extraordinary military rank of “major.” The preamble of the order states that the cosmonaut of the Air Force, senior lieutenant Yu.A. Gagarin is sent on a satellite ship into outer space in order to be the first to pave the way for man into space, to accomplish an unprecedented heroic feat and to glorify his native country.

This editions cool link:

I’m going to repeat the link to the images of Yuri Gagarin in Moldova, to be sure you do not miss it!

This editions cool image:

I have cleaned up, and AI enlarged this Soviet poster for Cosmonautics day, celebrated on the day of Gagarin’s historic flight. Click for full size.

This editions cool download:

As usual the download link will be available for 1 week only, the whole purpose is to encourage people to read the articles promptly, and right to the end. An excellent reason to subscribe in my opinion!

This editions download is a collection of 7 declassified CIA documents covering the development of the first satellite, and its implications.

Click to Download