Well-known Soviet newscaster and ‘senior comrade’ Igor Kirillov passed away

Kirillov’s career began in the 1950s. He announced the launch of the first satellite, Sputnik 1, in 1957. Four years later, he also reported the first manned space flight of the Russian Yuri Gagarin.

‘Thousands of declarations of love’

First Channel, that when “Russia 1” has replaced Soviet state television, Kirillov describes in the news report about his death as “legendary colleague, senior comrade and true teacher”. “With an intelligent demeanor, an understated smile and a distinctive voice that we will miss.”

Its popularity with female viewers is also recalled. “The female audience sighed at him and thousands of love letters came to the television center,” it reads.

After 1990 Kirillov was rarely seen. The Soviet Union was dissolved a year later.

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