They were known as cosmonauts.
Cosmonaut is the conventional English term for a Russian astronaut, but the terms astronaut and cosmonaut are considered interchangeable. Cosmonaut derives from the Greek for universe + sailor.The Soviet [Russian] cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin has the distinction of having been the first human in space and the first to orbit, orbiting the Earth in 1961.
Cosmenauts
The Russian Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov was first to spacewalk on the 18th March 1965
It wasn't actually an astronaut. It was a Russian cosmonaut by the name of Yuri Gegarin (I believe that is how his name is spelled).
It's a Russian Astronaut.
Cosmonaut
A cosmonaut is another term for an astronaut. Generally, the term "cosmonaut" is used only for astronauts associated with the Soviet or Russian space program.
ASTRONAUT : one who travels in space (also, cosmonaut, the Russian term)
the Russian wor for an astronaut. they call them cosmonaut.
Valentina Tereshkova is a former Russian astronaut and the first woman to fly in space. She piloted the Vostok 6 mission which launched on June 16, 1963.
космонавт (Anglecized . . . 'Cosmonaut')
cosmonaut-means Russian astronaut