Despite the Bluster, Russian/US Space Operations Go on As Usual

A trio of Russian Cosmonauts launched on their way to the International Space Station, surprising onlookers given the increased geopolitical tensions following a series of escalating talk and sanctions. 

The space station has continued operating as usual, with the 3 cosmonauts inbound to rotate in and replace some of the 7 crewmembers currently ending their term aboard the station. The returning trio will be two Russians and one American, Astronaut Mark Vande Hei. They are expected to begin their journey Earthbound on March 30 using a Soyuz capsule, and so far NASA has stated they have no intentions to shake up arrangements so far. 

The intense round of global sanctions and talk of economic punishment towards Russia led some less-knowledgeable viewers to assume that all going spacefaring efforts would be ended between the USA, its international space partners, and Russia only to be met with news of a continuing status quo. The space ecosystem required to keep the ISS safely in orbit is, unsurprisingly, truly international. The interconnected, complex systems required to maintain life aboard the large ISS are such that  disentangling the operation - aside from going against the spirit of space travel - is simply impossible  in the near term if any degree of safety is to be expected. 

That continuation of services, however, has not been adequately reflected in media, both corporate and social. Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin has long maintained an internet profile as being hot-tempered and brash in his comments.

FMI: https://www.roscosmos.ru/