Putin commemorates Gagarin’s space flight

Russian President Vladimir Putin laid flowers Monday at a monument dedicated to cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the cosmonaut who became the first person in space 60 years ago.

The monument is located at the site where Gagarin landed after his first mission, in western Russia's Saratov region.

Commemorative events are taking place all across Russia to mark the anniversary.

"We will always be proud that it was our country that lay the path to the universe, and that the pioneer on this path was our fellow countryman," Putin said Monday in a meeting with space officials.

Gagarin's 108-minute mission took the Space Age to a new level and marked a historic achievement for the Soviet Union, which beat the United States in a tight race to launch a man beyond Earth's atmosphere.

For the Soviet people, Gagarin's spaceflight was a triumph comparable to the victory over the Germans in World War II.

It has remained a source of national pride since April 12, 1961, a symbol of the country's bravery and technological prowess.

Putin added that Russia must preserve its status as a leading space power in the 21st century.