According to information from Anatoly Zak, the editor of the independent site Russian Space Web, the astronauts aboard the Russian segment of the station donned protective gear and activated an additional air purification system. In the American segment of the station, NASA astronaut Don Pettit reported smelling an odor reminiscent of paint.
On Sunday, November 24, controllers at the Flight Control Center in Houston (USA) determined that the air quality inside the space station was at a normal level.
It is still unclear what caused the unpleasant smell emanating from the Progress spacecraft; however, previous ships of this series have experienced leaks while in space. For instance, in February 2023, the Progress spacecraft docked to the ISS had a cooling system depressurization.