KOROLYOV /Moscow Region/, December 24. /TASS/. Russian cosmonauts will prepare an Olivier salad for their New Year’s meal aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin announced.

Moscow's chief Father Frost from the Mission Control Center (MCC) conveyed New Year’s wishes to the Roscosmos cosmonauts on the ISS during a call on Tuesday.

"Whether we’re on Earth or in space, we always ensure we have our favorite, most flavorful dishes for the holiday," Alexey Ovchinin explained. "Here on the ISS, we’re also looking forward to some special treats for New Year’s Eve. We’ve reserved certain items just for this occasion. A supply truck recently arrived, bringing us gifts from our families, and we’ll be sure to include them on our holiday table," he said during a video link with the ISS. "Additionally, we’ve planned to prepare the Olivier salad, as no New Year’s celebration would be complete without it," he added.

During the video link session, the cosmonauts shared details on how they intend to celebrate the New Year aboard the station, a unique experiment, and other aspects of their work.

"For me, the most challenging experiments are those related to medicine," said Alexander Gorbunov. "For example, we have an experiment called Diode. In this experiment, we wear a special cap fitted with numerous sound diodes - green, red, and orange. When they all light up, it resembles a Christmas tree. So, we can say this is our most New Year-themed experiment," he explained in response to a question from Father Frost’s assistant, Snegurochka.

Gorbunov also mentioned that the cosmonauts will try to watch New Year's fireworks from the station, if the cloud cover permits it.

During the call, Gorbunov, Ovchinin, and Ivan Vagner extended their holiday greetings to the Russian people, wishing them happiness, the fulfillment of their wishes, and a peaceful sky above. Additionally, the Russian crew members had the opportunity to speak with their families, who had gathered at the Mission Control Center.