The Russians know why there was a hole in a Soyuz spacecraft moored at the ISS but they will not say why at NASA

Last August, it was discovered that the orbital module of one of the Soyuz spacecraft used to transport astronauts and cosmonauts to and from the International Space Station had a small hole. This hole was a problem because it caused an alarming leak of breathable air inside the ISS in the space. The hole appeared to be a man made drill hole, and looked nothing like an asteroid strike. It now seems that the Russian space agency Roscosmos knows why this hole was there, but refuses to tell NASA. Without good reason, as far as I know.

Well, they gave a reason, but I think you'll agree, it's not really good:

"There must be a secret with us."

Huh. That's what Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin told participants at an all-Russian scientific conference entitled "Orbit of Youth".

The hole was found in the orbital module of Soyuz, a spherical shaped module located at the top of the probe that is used for orbiting living space and for mooring, and can be used as an airlock in a pinch.

The orbital module is one of the most innovative elements of the Soyuz design, allowing more living space without substantial weight increase. This also tends to work best when there are no holes, and it's quite confusing that Rocosmos chooses to keep the reason why it was done in space with a hole in the secret.

Are they bothered by a manufacturing error? Hide sabotage? An accident in orbit? We would not have to speculate extravagantly if they would, you know. tell us.

The Soyuz is probably my favorite spacecraft in the real world of all time, but it is very long in the tooth now, and if that is the attitude we can expect from Russia regarding the spacecraft on which our astronauts rely to survive, so I think that SpaceX's Crew Dragon or Boeing Starliner crew ferry flights can not arrive soon enough.