Russian space agency Roscosmos temporarily halts rocket launches in French Guiana due to sanctions imposed by the European Union. Roscosmos has announced that it’s temporarily halting Soyuz rocket launches due to EU sanctions.

Roscosmos is working on a plan to withdraw all 87 of its staff from the Guiana space center in kourou.

Arianespace was on track to launch two Galileo satellites into orbit using a Soyuz rocket in April. The US and Europe have put a slew of sanctions on Russia since its invasion into Ukraine.

The European commissioner for space confirmed that this decision has no consequences on the continuity and quality of the Galileo and Copernicus services.

Russia and Europe have been readying for a robotic mission to Mars set to take place this year. The European Space Agency says the mission will’continue to monitor the evolving situation’.